Huskers Eager for 2018 Season

Nebraska has been one of the nation's most successful programs over the past five seasons. The Huskers have posted three top-20 national finishes and two top-10 finishes in the last five years, while winning two NCAA Regional titles and advancing to the 2013 Women's College World Series. Nebraska also claimed its first Big Ten title in 2014. In 2018, the Huskers look to make another run for the conference title and return to the NCAA Tournament.

While the 2017 senior class was small, it was influential and powerful, combining for 430 career starts among the four of them. NU lost its All-America third baseman MJ Knighten, who over the last four years started all but one game at the position. Rachel Arthur, who played a consistent role in the infield also departed, along with pitcher Cassie McClure and Lotte Sjulin.
As the largest class on the roster, Nebraska's 2018 seniors will help replace the talent and leadership lost from the previous year. While the group consists of six players, only five will see the field as Austen Urness will miss the season due to injury.

Laura Barrow, Kaylan Jablonski and Gina Metzler have a combined 336 starts over the past three years. Each member of the trio ranks in the top five in career batting average of returning Huskers, while Metzler leads the way with a career average of .299. Taylor Otte earned a career-high 30 starts as a junior, more than her first two years combined, and she'll look to play a key role in the Husker outfield. Jablonski and Caitlin Bartsch will help the team in the circle as well. Jablonski returns as the Huskers' most efficient pitcher. She leads the crew with a career ERA of 4.53, which included a season-best 4.31 in 2017. She set career highs in nearly every pitching category last season and led Nebraska in appearances, starts, innings, strikeouts and complete games. Bartsch has made 12 appearances over the past three years and could compete for a bigger role in her final year with Nebraska.

The juniors consist of only three returners and one transfer, but the group has significant experience. Bri Cassidy was Nebraska's primary catcher last season, starting 45 games at the position. Alyvia Simmons has started 80 games over the past two years and led the team in doubles (16) and slugging percentage (.513) in 2017. She also has experience playing all three outfield positions. Madi Unzicker did not see the field last season after suffering a torn ACL, but looks to pick up right where she left off prior to her injury in the infield. Unzicker has 45 career starts under her belt. She batted .217 and slugged .457 in 2016. Junior college transfer Regan Mergele looks to have an immediate impact on the team in the circle. Mergele was a two-time NJCAA national champion and All-American. Last season, she posted an ERA of 0.79 and a record of 34-0.
Nebraska's sophomores may be young, but the group of five made big strides last season, stepping up to help replace the loss of a talented group of seniors. Alexis Perry and Tristen Edwards each started 47 games in 2017, primarily at first base and right field, respectively. At the plate, they each batted above .236 and combined for 68 hits. The remaining trio of Bree Boruff, Lexey Kneib and Sydney McLeod will look to have bigger roles this season after appearing in a combined 53 games last season, with Kneib making a good push to replace Knighten at third.
Nebraska's five freshmen will have chances to make immediate contributions, much like the 2013 class that helped the Huskers to the Women's College World Series. All but one hail from the Cornhusker state and several hold state and school prep records and claimed state titles in high school. Additionally, a number of newcomers were part of the 2015 ASA Gold 16-and-Under National Championship team. Rylie Unzicker was one of 36 players nationally selected to participate in the 2016 Premier Girls Fastpitch High School All-American Game and was the 2016-17 Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year, as well as a high school All-American.

Duo Returns as All-Region, All-Big Ten Picks
Senior Kaylan Jablonski and junior Alyvia Simmons return in 2018 as all-region picks and all-conference honorees. Both Jablonski and Simmons earned third-team NFCA All-Midwest Region honors and second-team all-Big Ten accolades in 2017. Jablonski was a star both on offense and defense for the Huskers last season. She batted .263 in 43 games and had 31 hits, with 12 doubles and five homers. She totaled 29 RBIs and finished the season with a slugging percentage of .492 - the highest of her career. In the circle, Jablonski appeared in 40 games and pitched 10 complete games. She claimed 11 wins and finished with a career-low 4.31 ERA. Simmons was explosive on offense, batting .333 and slugging .513 in 2017 - both which were career highs. She had 50 hits, almost doubling her count from 2016. On defense, she started 44 games and was the only Husker to start at least one game in all three outfield spots.

Huskers Add Junior College Standout
Prior to the season, the Huskers added right-handed pitcher Regan Mergele to their roster. Mergele comes from Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan., where she helped lead the Grizzlies to back-to-back National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championships in 2016 and 2017. Mergele was named the NJCAA Division I Pitcher of the Year and the NJCAA Division I Championship's Most Outstanding Pitcher in 2017. Mergele finished her two-year junior college career with a 1.07 ERA and an overall record of 58-3. Additionally, she claimed All-America honors twice from both the NJCAA and the NFCA.
Mergele will have two years of eligibility with the Huskers and will be active for the 2018 season.