Huskers Ready for Series at No. 22 Northwestern

Northwestern and Nebraska have been the top two Big Ten teams the past two seasons. The Wildcats claimed the 2022 regular season title while the Huskers earned the Big Ten Tournament title. The programs finished 1-2 in last year’s Big Ten standings, and they enter this weekend 1-2 in the standings again. Northwestern has won 75 games the past two seasons while Nebraska has won 73 games. The Huskers and Wildcats are two of only 22 teams nationally – and the only Big Ten teams – with 70 or more wins since the start of the 2022 season.

Nebraska’s offense is currently in the top three in the Big Ten in batting average (.318), doubles (78), home runs (48), hits (393) and slugging percentage (.553). Freshman Katelyn Caneda leads the Big Red offense with a .393 batting average and has tallied 53 hits including seven doubles, one triple, two home runs and 32 RBI. In the circle, Courtney Wallace (21-8) has appeared in 173.2 innings while tallying 110 strikeouts. 

 

Nebraska by the Numbers

• Nebraska is second in the conference in batting average (.318) and 21st in the nation. 
• The Huskers are second in the Big Ten in shutouts with 11 and are ranked 27th in the NCAA.
• NU ranks third in the Big Ten and 26th in the nation with a .509 slugging percentage. 
• Katelyn Caneda is sixth in the conference with a .393 batting average, a mark that leads the Big Red. 
• Billie Andrews and Brooke Andrews are fourth in the Big Ten with 11 home runs this season. 
• Billie Andrews and Katelyn Caneda are fifth and seventh in total hits in the conference. 
• Courtney Wallace has recorded the most victories in the circle in the Big Ten with 21. She ranks sixth in the NCAA as Megan Faraimo of UCLA leads the nation with 24 wins. 

Northwestern by the Numbers

• The Wildcats currently lead the Big Ten standings with a 15-2 record, their only losses coming from Iowa and Michigan.
• Northwestern holds a team batting average of .279, a number that ranks sixth in the Big Ten. 
• The Wildcats Skyler Shellmeyer who holds a .342 batting average with 41 hits and 19 RBI.
• Jordyn Rudd, 2022 Gold Glove Award recipient, leads NU with 34 RBI. She has started every game behind the plate. 
• The Wildcats have a team ERA of 2.96, which ranks eighth in the conference. 
• A First Team All-American, Danielle Williams leads Northwestern in the circle. The fifth-year senior has appeared in 92.2 innings and holds a 12-1 record. Williams has tallied 128 strikeouts this season while allowing 35 earned runs. 
• Lauren Boyd has added 81.2 innings of work and leads the Wildcats with a 1.63  ERA. The junior holds a 7-3 record with one saveH

Husker Quick Hits

• Eight of Brooke Andrews’ 11 home runs came in the fourth inning or later this season.
• Billie Andrews and Brooke Andrews have recorded a home run in the same game five times during their careers at Nebraska. 
• Billie Andrews has tallied 11 home runs this season. She is now seventh all-time in Nebraska history in career homers with 38. 
• Andrews is one of 12 returning players in the NCAA who hit 20 or more home runs last season. 
• Sarah Harness recorded a no-hitter against New Mexico on Feb. 24, 2023. It marked the first no-hitter by a Nebraska pitcher since 2016. 
• Sarah Harness has  tallied 85 strikeouts this season and has combined for over 500 in her career including her three seasons at Southern Illinois. 
• Mya Felder is the only returning Big Ten player who received All-Big Ten, All-Defensive and All-Tournament honors in 2022. 
• Courtney Wallace is one of six returning Rawlings/NFCA Gold Glove recipients from last season.