Rounding out the staff is Bishop. Nebraska's tallest pitcher at 6-0, Bishop saw limited
action as a freshman but made good strides in her development. She appeared in five
games and although she did not earn a decision, Bishop allowed only two earned runs in
8.0 innings for a staff-best 1.75 ERA. She picked up one save and added five strikeouts
while not allowing an earned run in four of her five appearances. Bishop again dedicated
herself to her craft in the offseason and continues to improve. She will be expected to
complement Edwards and Lockman to give NU one of the nation's top pitching staffs.
Playing behind the best catcher in school history, Noland saw limited action as a
freshman. She appeared in 14 total games in 2013, including two appearances at catcher.
Noland earned more playing time last fall in Nebraska's eight-game exhibition schedule
against Division I opponents, making three starts and producing one hit and one RBI
while posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Although her game day contributions
were limited in 2013, Noland contributed extensively during bullpen sessions that helped
develop a Husker pitching staff that ranked 15th nationally in ERA. Noland is expected to
again be a key component of the pitching staff's development in 2014, when she could
also see time as a pinch hitter or potentially at third base. Noland scored two runs and
was hitless in six at bats during her freshman season.
Urness will also work at catcher, although the majority of her playing time is expected
to come in the outfield. Urness has experience at both positions, and she served as the
starting catcher for Lakeside High School in Lake Elsinore, Calif., where she was a threetime All-CIF Southern Section honoree, a two-time Sunbelt League MVP and a four-time
first-team, all-league selection. Urness has the potential to add a big bat to the Husker
lineup regardless of where she plays. She boasted a .474 career batting average in high
school with 35 doubles, seven triples, 28 home runs and 122 RBIs.
The catchers
Nebraska boasts its deepest receiving corps in years this spring, but the group is once
again headlined by senior Taylor Edwards, the only All-America catcher in school history.
Behind Edwards, sophomore Sammi Noland returns for her second year, while freshman
Austen Urness will also work behind the plate, in addition to the outfield.
One of the 25 finalists for USA Softball Player of the Year when she was selected as
a third-team All-American in 2011, Edwards is one of the top defensive catchers in the
country and one of the nation's top hitters regardless of position. Edwards has started
154 games behind the plate in her first three seasons. She enters her senior season with
36 career home runs and 159 RBIs to go along with a .320 batting average. Edwards will
open the 2014 season ranked fifth nationally in career RBIs and eighth in career home
runs. She has also drawn 109 career walks, a total that ranks fourth nationally among all
active players in 2014.
Among the Husker record book, Edwards enters this spring third in school history in
career home runs and fou