The Nebraska softball team found out Tuesday that they would begin the season ranked No. 10 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll to begin the season. The Cornhuskers finished last season 43-15, advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals before losing to Tennessee in three games.
Nebraska returns All-America pitcher Jordy (Bahl) Frahm and all-Big Ten shortstop Ava Kuszak among seven starters returning from the lineup. Nebraska also returns the vast majority of their pitching staff from last year, while adding Alexis Jensen, last year’s Nebraska Gatorade High School Player of the Year.
The Huskers’ schedule is challenging, with NU opening against perennial power Washington on Feb. 6 before playing No. 1 and defending national champion Texas later on Feb. 6. Nebraska has one more game each against the Longhorns and Huskies that first weekend in San Antonio, Texas. Then, the Huskers travel to Clearwater, Fla., where they’ll face No. 16 LSU, No. 20 Georgia, No. 4 Tennessee in a rematch of last year’s Super Regional, and No. 2 Texas Tech. Week three in Cathedral City, Calif., features matchups against No. 12 South Carolina and No. 11 Texas A&M, among others. Nebraska closes February with a trip to Oklahoma that includes three games against No. 24 Oklahoma State. The Big Ten schedule is highlighted by a three-game series against No. 7 UCLA March 27-29.