Top-ranked Nebraska softball excited about final stretch of the season

With two weeks left in the regular season, Nebraska softball is on track to host all of its NCAA Tournament games leading up to the Women’s College World Series. The team is on pace for one of the best seasons in school history.

Senior night is coming up Saturday, and 34-year head coach Rhona Revelle got emotional Wednesday at a press conference when talking about her selfless group of seniors.

“When you get that kind of love that's really unconditional for one another, I don't care what kind of unit you're in, a team or a family or work environment, all things are possible,” Revelle said. “And this team has made all things possible, and it's because of their behavior and the way that they love and they serve and they care.”

How the seniors interact with media, fans and athletic department workers has been “impeccable,” Revelle said. She added that each player picks the other up when they’re struggling.

That attitude was evident in a Tuesday night win on the road against Omaha, the coach said. It also marked Nebraska’s 12th straight victory. Husker standout pitcher and first baseman Jordy Frahm graduated from Papillion-La Vista High School in the Omaha metro area. Frahm said seeing the standing-room-only crowd between two in-state teams made her emotional.

“I took a moment last night to just look around at all the little girls there,” Frahm said. “And I'm like, ‘How cool that these girls get to watch this softball game, feel this environment, and watch two teams play loaded with Nebraska talent.’”

Despite a listed capacity of 650 at Omaha's Connie Claussen Field, more than 2,000 people attended Tuesday’s game.

The senior pitcher and first baseman said the team is focusing on staying present down the stretch.

The Huskers are No. 4 in the RPI rankings, which largely determine postseason seeding. If the team can stay the course, NU will host its first super regional in school history. That tournament format started in 2003 when the postseason field grew to 64 teams. The super regional round includes a three-game series between two teams, with the winner going to the Women’s College World Series. Last year’s squad fell just one win short of going to the Women’s College World Series, when it dropped a decisive game to Tennessee in the super regionals.

NU also hasn’t hosted a four-team, double-elimination regional since 2013, which was also the last time the Huskers made the Women’s College World Series. The top 16 teams host a regional and the top eight seeds automatically host a super regional, if they advance.

The journey for history continues this weekend, as Nebraska hosts rival Iowa for a Friday-Sunday, three-game series. The Huskers currently hold a 37-6 record overall and a 17-1 mark in league play.

Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT. The senior day game Saturday is slated to start at 1 p.m. CT and Sunday’s game will start at noon. All of this weekend’s games are streamed on Big Ten Plus.