2014 Nebraska Softball Media Guide | Page 31

lotte sjulin freshman l outfielder l 5-7 omaha, neb. l douglas county west/concordia HS austen # urness 01 freshman l outfielder/CATCHER l 5-5 lake elsinore, calif. l lakeside hs Season outlook # 27 Season outlook Lotte Sjulin has the ability to fill a variety of roles for Nebraska as a freshman in 2014. She will spend the majority of her time competing for playing time in a Husker outfield that must replace two lost starters from a year ago. Sjulin is also a candidate to be one of Nebraska’s primary pinch runners this spring, a role that could prove key to the Huskers’ chances of a repeat trip to the Women’s College World Series. Sjulin was a Class B all-state honoree as a senior, when she batted .444. She was also selected to play in the Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Game last summer. Sjulin saw action in seven games during the Huskers’ fall season, primarily as a pinch runner. She scored seven runs and fielded her only chance in the outfield. Austen Urness will compete for a starting spot in the Husker outfield this spring, in addition to working into Nebraska’s three-player catcher rotation. Urness has experience at both positions, as she was the starting catcher for Lakeside High School, but was primarily an outfielder for the Corona Angels travel team. Regardless of her role, Urness is expected to figure prominently into Nebraska’s lineup in 2014, when the Huskers seek a return trip to the Women’s College World Series. Urness was one of the top hitters in California throughout her prep career, batting .614 as a senior while posting a .474 career batting average. A three-time All-CIF Southern Section first-team honoree, Urness produced 35 career doubles, 28 career home runs, 122 career RBIs and a .928 career slugging percentage for Lakeside. During Nebraska’s fall season, Urness produced one hit, three walks, a stolen base and an RBI in four starts against Division I opponents. Before Nebraska Sjulin is one of three in-state freshmen for Nebraska in 2014. Sjulin attended Concordia High School and played her prep softball for Douglas County West/Concordia. A catcher and outfielder, Sjulin batted .444 as a senior in 2012, earning second-team Class B all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald. Sjulin also garnered honorablemention All-Capital Conference accolades and was named one of 13 players to watch in Class B prior to the 2012 season by the Lincoln Journal Star. Following the year, she was a Journal Star honorable-mention all-state selection. Sjulin was also selected to play