2014 Nebraska Softball Media Guide | Page 16

runs and 29 RBIs, and she was the toughest Husker to strikeout. Decker's 13 doubles were the third-most by a freshman in school history, while her six home runs and 29 RBIs both ranked eighth on Nebraska's all-time freshman chart. She improved throughout her freshman season, batting .293 during the Big Ten season. Decker also provided several big hits against top competition, homering against No. 2 Florida and No. 9 Michigan, while adding two doubles against third-ranked Oregon. A talented hitter, Decker showed continued improvement last fall during the Huskers' eight-game schedule against Division I opponents when she went 18-for-26 (.692). Defensively, Decker committed only nine errors in 272 chances in 2013, while playing a key role in Nebraska turning 49 double plays, the third-highest total in NCAA history. Teaming up with Decker for many of those double plays was Armstrong, a 2013 secondteam All-Big Ten pick and the shortstop on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Armstrong produced a fantastic freshman campaign, leading Nebraska with a .346 batting average, a mark that was nearly 20 points higher than any other Husker. She was just the seventh freshman to lead NU in batting average and each of the last four freshmen to accomplish that feat went on to earn All-America honors in their careers. A tough out at the plate, Armstrong possesses the coveted combination of speed and power. She beat out 19 infield singles and stole seven bases last spring, while also adding 10 doubles and four home runs. Her speed also translates into outstanding range at short, where she fielded the most chances by a shortstop in school history and posted the second-best fielding percentage (.953) by a shortstop in program history. Armstrong is a key piece both offensively and defensively for a Husker team that has expectations of making it back to the Women's College World Series for a second straight year. She missed the entire fall season with a back injury, and the injury could limit Armstrong's abilities and production this spring. Rounding out the projected starting infield is Knighten, who earned second-team All-America honors as a high school senior. Knighten started all eight games at third in Nebraska's fall exhibition season and played against some of the nation's top competition with the Corona Angels. That experience should aide her development as she is thrust into a starting role as a freshman. Offensively, Knighten owned a .456 career batting average for Sunny Hill High School, and she slugged 30 doubles and 28 home runs, while producing 81 RBIs. During the fall season, Knighten recorded six hits [