Big Ten Stretch Drive Begins at Nebraska

4/27/2017 9:31:00 AM | Softball

NORTHWESTERN SOFTBALL: Nebraska Series
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	COVERAGE	LIVE STATS
Friday, April 28	Nebraska	7 p.m. CT	Bowlin Stadium	BTN	Live Stats
Saturday, April 29	Nebraska	1 p.m. CT	Bowlin Stadium	BTN Plus ($) Huskers Audio	Live Stats
Saturday, April 29	Nebraska	3:30 p.m. CT	Bowlin Stadium	BTN Plus ($) Huskers Audio	Live Stats
Social: Twitter (@NUSBCats and @NU_SportsLive) \| Instagram (nusbcats) \| Facebook Game Notes: Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. -- With two weeks remaining in the regular season, Northwestern kicks off a critical eight-game stretch drive April 28-30 at Nebraska. Friday's game will be televised live on BTN.

The opener has a later-than-normal start time to accommodate live TV, with first pitch set for 7 p.m. CT. Lisa Byington and Carol Bruggeman will have the call.

SCHEDULE UPDATE: Due to the weather forecast, the two teams will attempt a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday. The first game will be covered on BTN Plus while the second game will have BTN Plus at a link TBD. We will update this page and provide the exact link on Twitter and Facebook, as well. Both games also feature free Huskers audio (provided by the incomparable Nate Rohr). Links are in the chart above.

All non-conference contests are complete, with Northwestern ending up 14-15 against what currently is rated as the No. 4 hardest out-of-conference strength of schedule in the nation. From here, a strong finish in the Big Ten is what the Wildcats seek beginning this weekend against the Huskers.

Northwestern and Nebraska are two of the most storied programs in Big Ten softball. Other than Michigan, the Wildcats and Huskers are the only two B1G teams to make the Women's College World Series in the last decade. They are two of four conference teams to qualify for four of the last five NCAA Tournament fields. Each have long-time head coaches with lengthy resumes of success.

This year, NU and Nebraska also have had exceptionally similar seasons, setting the stage for a monster weekend in Lincoln. For the entire first month of 2017, the Wildcats and Huskers had the Nos. 1 and 2 strengths of schedule in the country, and their records reflected that opponent onslaught. Both now have clawed their way back within four games of .500, and meet with much on the line in terms of postseason positioning.

Northwestern most recently swept Purdue in its final home weekend series of the Big Ten season, while Nebraska dropped two-of-three games to Illinois. The last game against the Illini, however, saw the Huskers dominate to the tune of a 14-0 (5) victory.

While most Big Ten teams have just six games remaining, Northwestern has eight thanks to a re-scheduled doubleheader against Illinois. Those games, originally slated for April 5, will be played May 3 at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. NU then travels to Iowa to conclude the regular season before the Big Ten Tournament May 11-13 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

NORTHWESTERN RETURNS TO THE J FOR MAY 3 DOUBLEHEADER WITH ILLINOIS LIVE ON BTN
Senior Alcy Bush, Anna Petersen and Krista Williams were honored during the 11th annual Purple Auction Saturday and on Senior Day Sunday, but in a scheduling and re-scheduling quirk, their Sharon J. Drysdale Field careers are not over. The trio and their teammates will play two more games in Evanston May 3 against Illinois. The doubleheader was rescheduled from April 5 after inclement weather wiped out the original twinbill. BTN has elected to provide full coverage of both games.

NORTHWESTERN COVERAGE SCHEDULE FOR REMAINDER OF 2017

BTN PLUS (5 Games): Cost is $9.95 for a monthly pass for Northwestern games.