Huskers Head to Hillenbrand Invitational

The Nebraska softball team (9-6) continues its non-conference schedule as the Huskers travel to Tucson, Ariz., this weekend, March 3-5. NU will face four teams including its sixth-ranked opponent in No. 16 Arizona while playing a total of five games.

 

The Big Red will open with Weber State on Friday, March 3. The game is set to begin at 11 a.m. (CT). Following game one, Nebraska will face TAMU – Commerce. First pitch will be at approximately 2 p.m. (CT).

 

On Saturday, the Huskers will take on Weber State for the second time at 1 p.m. (CT). Nebraska will face No. 16 Arizona following the completion of the first game. First pitch with the Wildcats will be at approximately 4 p.m. (CT). 

 

NU will finish the weekend on Sunday with a game against CSUN at 10 a.m. (CT). 

• The Huskers will play their sixth game against a top-16 opponent this season when they face No. 16 Arizona. 
• Nebraska’s pitching staff leads the conference with seven shutouts. The Huskers are just two shutouts away from matching the 2022 shutout total (9). 
• In the circle, NU has better than a 2:1 strikeout to walk ratio.
• The Huskers are 7-1 when scoring more than two runs in a game this season. 
• NU has held nine opponents to one run or less through the first 15 games.
• Billie Andrews has hit four of her six home runs in the lead off at-bat. 
• The Big Red will travel to Arizona this weekend, the home state of four Huskers (Alina Felix, Sydney Gray, Caitlynn Neal and Haidyn Warner). 
• In 10 games against non-top-10 teams, the Husker pitching staff is 9-1 with a 0.44 ERA and seven shutouts.  
• NU will face four opponents this weekend. The Huskers will take on Weber State, Arizona, CSUN and Texas A&M Commerce. This will be the first meeting between Nebraska and Texas A&M Commerce. 

Nebraska by the Numbers 

• The Huskers lead the Big Ten in shutouts with seven and are ranked seventh in the NCAA. 
• Billie Andrews is second in the conference and 10th in the NCAA in home runs with six to start the season. 
• Kaylin Kinney has made seven appearances in the circle. She holds a 0.84 ERA, the third-lowest mark in the Big Ten. 
• Courtney Wallace has tallied three shutouts this season, the most in the conference and sixth-most in the nation. 
• Wallace has recorded the second-most wins in the circle across the Big Ten this season with five. 
• Nebraska returns 11 players from a 2022 squad that claimed the Big Ten Tournament title and reached the NCAA Tournament. 
• The Huskers 2023 team features seven newcomers including six freshmen and one transfer. 

Opponents by the Numbers

• No. 16 Arizona is currently eighth in the nation and first in the Pac-12 in scoring. The Wildcats average 7.62 runs per game. 
• Arizona also leads the Pac-12 in on-base percentage with a team average of 0.428.
• Junior Carlie Scupin has tallied 19 RBIs this season for the Wildcats, a number that ranks 20th in the NCAA. 
• CSUN leads the Big West with a .967 fielding percentage. 
• The Matadors hold a .210 batting average and a 
• Sophomore Kaylee Escutia leads CSUN with 11 hits and a .379 batting average. 
• Texas A&M – Commerce holds a .184 batting average through 16 games this season.
• Freshman Kaydee Bennett leads the Lions with a .313 batting average. 
• Weber State is second in the Big Sky with a .276 batting average. 
• Fifth year McKell McCuistion has been dominate for the Wildcats this season, tallying 22 hits including five doubles and nine RBIs while holding a .478 batting average.