Preview: No. 10 Nebraska Softball vs Omaha with Breakdown

How to Follow Along 

• Matchup: No. 10 Nebraska (16-5) vs Omaha (14-4)
• When: Saturday, March 7
• Where: Bowlin Stadium, Lincoln, Neb.
• Time: 2 p.m. CST 
• Watch: B1G+
• Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates

• Matchup: No. 10 Nebraska (16-5) vs Omaha (14-4)
• When: Sunday, March 8
• Where: Bowlin Stadium, Lincoln, Neb.
• Time: 2 p.m. CDT 
• Watch: B1G+
• Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates

Omaha Scout

The Mavericks enter the weekend with a record of 14-4. Their losses are to Arkansas (twice), Troy and Kansas.

Omaha and NU met once in the fall with the Mavericks coming away with a 1-0 win.

Head Coach

• Mike Heard | 5th season as HC at Omaha
• 162-63 record in four seasons
• 3 Summit League Tournament titles
• 4 Summit League Tournament title games
• 3 NCAA Tournament berths
• 2024 Summit League Coach of the Year
• 2025 Summit League Regular Season Champions

2024-2025 Record & Awards

• Record: 40-13, (14-4 Summit League, 1st)
• Summit League Awards: Pitcher of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year
• All-Summit League: 3x First Team, 2x Second Team, 3x Honorable Mention

All-Time Series

• Nebraska leads the all-time series 21-9
• March 26, 2025, last matchup, 5-0 NU

Key Returners

• Sammy Schmidt | Jr. | OF | Leads Omaha with a .432 batting average.
• Rylinn Groff | Jr. | C | Leads the team with nine hit-by-pitches.
• Maddia Groff | Jr. | LHP | Is the ace of the Omaha pitching staff with a 4-2 record in 46.1 innings pitched. She has struck out 56 batters and only walked 10.
• Marra Cramer | Sr. | OF | Has a team-high eight doubles and 26 RBIs.
• Katherine Johnson | Jr. | INF | Is a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen bases.
• Ava Rongisch | Sr. | OF | Has a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Key Departures

• Maggie O'Brien | INF | Graduated
• Sydney Thomason | INF | Graduated

Impact Transfers/Newcomers

• Taylor Sedlacek | Sr. | INF | Transferred from Wichita State. Leads the team with seven home runs, a .882 slugging percentage, and a .580 on-base percentage. Also tied for the lead in hits.
• Bailey Sample | Sr. | OF | Transferred from Bradley. Tied for a team-high in hits (22) and runs scored (22).

Outlook

The Huskers should beat the Mavericks twice, but a split wouldn't be the end of the world. Maddia Groff is one of the nation's best pitchers, and losing to her wouldn't be horrible.

However, Nebraska should go 2-0 and remain in the top 10 with a clean sweep of the weekend's four games.