Connect with us

LINCOLN –The Nebraska softball team (10-13) opens Big Ten play this weekend when it travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on the No. 25 Michigan Wolverines (16-10). Nebraska will play game one on Friday at 3 p.m. CT. Game two will be on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT and game three will be Sunday at noon CT.

Last Time Out
Nebraska looks to bounce back this weekend after being swept at the Rock Chalk Challenge March 16-17 in Lawrence, Kan. The Huskers fell to Tulsa and host-school Kansas twice each over the weekend. Tristen Edwards led the Husker starters going 4-for-11 (.364) with two runs, two homers and three RBIs.

Scouting Michigan
No. 25 Michigan enters the weekend with a 16-10 record. The Wolverines have won four straight games and seven of their last eight games. Most recently, the Wolverines beat Western Michigan in their mid-week game on Tuesday by a score of 3-0. Last weekend, Michigan swept Kent State in three games and outscored Kent State 34-2 in the series.

Freshman Lexi Blair is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week and Player of the Week. The Florida native turned in a near-perfect offensive weekend against Kent State, batting .875 (7-for-8) with a .900 on-base percentage (9-of-10) and a 1.250 slugging percentage. She also had eight RBIs and three runs scored. She became Michigan’s first conference weekly award winner this season. Overall, Blair is hitting .368 through 26 starts which ranks second on the team. She also has a team-high 32 hits and 21 RBIs. Blair only has three strikeouts through 87 at bats.

Faith Canfield leads the Wolverines at the plate, hitting .376 through 26 starts. Canfield has a team-best 20 runs and, 32 hits and four home runs. She also has 15 RBIs.

In the circle, Michigan is led by All-American Meghan Beaubien. The 2018 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year has a 9-3 record and a 1.99 ERA. She’s made a team-high 21 appearances, which ranks second in the conference and has 13 starts. She’s pitched 88.0 innings and nine complete games. She also has five of Michigan’s seven shutouts this season. The Michigan native also has a team-best 93 strikeouts, which ranks sixth in the Big Ten.

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in Softball