2008 Woodie Awards
Rutherford's consistent bat brings hope to NU softball
Luke Nichols
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Sports
Nebraska softball Coach Rhonda Revelle is hoping the conclusion of Monday's game against Northern Iowa is an indicator of positive things to come for the Cornhuskers.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Nebraska's offense, which had been AWOL for several weeks, erupted for two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth en route to a 6-2 win, ending a six-game losing streak.
Revelle said the last two innings of Monday's game may have been the best hitting the Huskers have produced all year and said she hopes that trend continues on Wednesday when Nebraska hosts South Dakota State for a doubleheader.
"We need hard-hit balls and well-pitched games," Revelle said. "If that happens, I think everything else will start to come back to us. It's not about our opponent; it's really about Nebraska and getting back into a rhythm"
Despite the offensive woes of the Husker lineup, leadoff hitter Darcy Rutherford has been a consistent bat for NU throughout the entire season.
The junior outfielder has a team-high .380 batting average and has a 12-game hitting streak going into Wednesday's games.
The longest hitting streak in Husker history is a 26-game streak by Anne Steffan in 2005.
Rutherford said her success with the bat has a lot to do with getting into a comfort zone at the plate.
"My mentality at the plate is trying to be a tough out," Rutherford said. "And I think I've been a pretty tough out since the beginning of the year."
Revelle said Rutherford has been a solid hitter all year. She said Rutherford approached her in the offseason and told her she planned on taking that mindset into the
2008 season.
"(Rutherford) put in a lot of work during the winter and during the offseason," Revelle said, "and she's earned the right to say that."
Rutherford, who's a slap-hitting left-hander, relies a lot on hitting the ball on the ground and using her speed to get on base.
Revelle said being a slap hitter means reading the defense and hitting accordingly. If the infield is back, a slap hitter tries to hit the ball softer. If the infield is in, they hit it harder. If the ground is hard, the idea is to try to hit
high hoppers.
"We just try to put the ball where they're not," Rutherford said, referring to defenders.
After hitting lower in the lineup last year, Rutherford has flourished as a leadoff hitter this season.
Revelle said what she expects from a leadoff hitter is the ability to get on base no matter what it takes, which means they need to have a great eye at the plate and not be afraid to get hit by a pitch at times.
Rutherford has done that, as well as walked five times on the season and has been hit by pitches five times. She also has eight
stolen bases.
Rutheford said it felt good to finally start scoring runs again in the final innings of the second Northern Iowa game.
"It had been a long time since we had a good inning like that," Rutherford said. "Hitting
is contagious.
"Hopefully we can keep
it going."
lukenichols@dailynebraskan.com
In the second game of the doubleheader, Nebraska's offense, which had been AWOL for several weeks, erupted for two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth en route to a 6-2 win, ending a six-game losing streak.
Revelle said the last two innings of Monday's game may have been the best hitting the Huskers have produced all year and said she hopes that trend continues on Wednesday when Nebraska hosts South Dakota State for a doubleheader.
"We need hard-hit balls and well-pitched games," Revelle said. "If that happens, I think everything else will start to come back to us. It's not about our opponent; it's really about Nebraska and getting back into a rhythm"
Despite the offensive woes of the Husker lineup, leadoff hitter Darcy Rutherford has been a consistent bat for NU throughout the entire season.
The junior outfielder has a team-high .380 batting average and has a 12-game hitting streak going into Wednesday's games.
The longest hitting streak in Husker history is a 26-game streak by Anne Steffan in 2005.
Rutherford said her success with the bat has a lot to do with getting into a comfort zone at the plate.
"My mentality at the plate is trying to be a tough out," Rutherford said. "And I think I've been a pretty tough out since the beginning of the year."
Revelle said Rutherford has been a solid hitter all year. She said Rutherford approached her in the offseason and told her she planned on taking that mindset into the
2008 season.
"(Rutherford) put in a lot of work during the winter and during the offseason," Revelle said, "and she's earned the right to say that."
Rutherford, who's a slap-hitting left-hander, relies a lot on hitting the ball on the ground and using her speed to get on base.
Revelle said being a slap hitter means reading the defense and hitting accordingly. If the infield is back, a slap hitter tries to hit the ball softer. If the infield is in, they hit it harder. If the ground is hard, the idea is to try to hit
high hoppers.
"We just try to put the ball where they're not," Rutherford said, referring to defenders.
After hitting lower in the lineup last year, Rutherford has flourished as a leadoff hitter this season.
Revelle said what she expects from a leadoff hitter is the ability to get on base no matter what it takes, which means they need to have a great eye at the plate and not be afraid to get hit by a pitch at times.
Rutherford has done that, as well as walked five times on the season and has been hit by pitches five times. She also has eight
stolen bases.
Rutheford said it felt good to finally start scoring runs again in the final innings of the second Northern Iowa game.
"It had been a long time since we had a good inning like that," Rutherford said. "Hitting
is contagious.
"Hopefully we can keep
it going."
lukenichols@dailynebraskan.com
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