QUARTERFINALS MICHIGAN – THINGS TO LOOK FOR:
- Nebraska swept Michigan in their conference opener, but none of the games were blowouts. However, if they bring the bats which showed up for the last 9 innings of the Penn State series, that could change. Michigan is an excellent offensive team with solid power. However the Huskers own the advantage there and even more so on the pitching side. They should advance.
- Ohio State rolled the dice against Michigan with their #2 starter Lorin Boutte and her horrific 5.99 ERA and 2.270 WHIP, perhaps hoping to win a slugfest and go with their ace Janna Molk against the Huskers. It backfired spectacularly as Michigan started their #1 Gabby Ellis (12-8 4.08 1.360) and the Wolverines battered both pitchers on their way to a 9-0 5-inning run-rule victory.
- Expect Michigan to start Erin Hoehn (8-5 4.38 1.680). The Huskers hit her hard in an 8-4 victory in that opening conference series.
- Jordy Frahm (16-4 1.26 0.880) will almost certainly start for the Huskers. If the Huskers advance, we’ll see what they do next, but I’m expecting Alexis Jensen in the semis – but with a very short leash and Frahm in the chamber ready to fire.
HUSKER GAME INFO
Schedule: (All times CST)
May 7 – Michigan – 12:30pm CST
Location: Maryland Softball Stadium, College Park, MD
Surface: Dirt Infield, Bermuda Grass outfield
TV/Streaming: All games will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
Radio: Huskers Radio Network. You can listen for free at Husker Audio – University of Nebraska – Official Athletics Website huskers.com – Nate Rohr is on the call for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Weather: Thursday’s game should be beautiful partly cloudy skies and light, variable winds
of 5-10mph and temps around 80 degrees.
THE OPPONENT
Michigan (33-19, 11-13 Big Ten 9th – 3-way tie)
The Wolverines ended Big 10 play with a sweep of Michigan State to finish in the 3-way tie for 9th and won the tiebreaker for the #9 seed. In 2025, Michigan finished 8th in the regular season but stunned #9 UCLA to win their 12th Big 10 tourney. The Huskers are the dominant team on paper and swept the Wolverines this season – but Michigan all but thinks of winning this tournament as their birthright.
The Huskers culture of only worrying about the next pitch will serve them well in this matchup.
And they have the recency of beating Michigan for the title in the 2022 final.
HUSKERS LINEUPS (Best Guess)
P/1B #98 JORDY FRAHM
CF #23 HANNAH COOR
LF/DP/P #9 HANNAH CAMENZIND
SS #7 AVA KUSZAK
C #25 JESSE FARRELL
RF #14 KACIE HOFFMANN
P/DP #99 ALEXIS JENSEN/EMMERSON COPE
3B #29 SAMANTHA BLAND
2B #2 LAURA CAMENZIND
1B #3 BELLA BACON (When Jordy pitches)
LF #27 NATALIA HILL (defensive only)
G1 Starter: JORDY FRAHM
