NU softball team loses Olympian to shoulder injury

Following the weather-related chaos surrounding the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic, the Nebraska softball team seeks to regain a sense of normalcy at the Wichita State Classic this weekend.


The 7-4 Cornhuskers will play a pair of games against North Dakota and Wichita State. NU has already faced North Dakota this season when freshman Ashley Hagemann struck out 19 in a 11-1 Nebraska victory on Feb. 7.


Wichita State enters with a seven-game losing streak to the Huskers, and a 7-8 record overall. Like the Huskers, Wichita had games canceled last weekend due to inclement weather in the Southeast.


Huskers coach Rhonda Revelle hopes to see continued improvement from her team.


"We're working to get runners on base, especially with two outs," Revelle said. "The last game we played was the best game of the year, and we're trying to build on that. We feel we're very close to 10-1 instead of 7-4."


Nebraska will play this weekend – and the rest of the season – without the services of junior Robin Mackin, a former Olympian and Fresno State transfer, due to a shoulder injury.


"Robin is going to have shoulder surgery on March 17," Revelle said. "She is done for the season."


Mackin made one appearance for the Huskers, walking five batters in two innings Saturday against Penn State.


The Huskers will apply for a medical redshirt for Mackin, but it is unknown whether the NCAA will accept it. Mackin has already redshirted to play in the Summer Olympics in Beijing last year.


Mackin looks forward to recovering from surgery and pitching for the Huskers next season.


"If everything goes as planned, I have a chance to play for the National Team this summer," Mackin said. "If it doesn't, I will definitely be able to be 100 percent by the fall season."


Pitching coach Lori Sippel, a former Olympian herself, says doing the surgery now will give Robin more time between the surgery and next season, giving her more time to recover.


"With Robin, there was quite a bit of pain to deal with," Sippel said. "This type of injury cuts down the speed, cuts down the control of the pitch. She wouldn't have been able to pitch at her normal level this season, so we went ahead with the surgery."


With or without Mackin, Nebraska still figures to have the advantage in pitching this weekend with senior Molly Hill and Hagemann, who boast earned run averages of 1.13 and 3.23, respectively.


"Our mentality won't change that much without Robin," Sippel said. "We're still going to have a great staff. If there's anything we're going to miss, it's Robin's mentality and experience in the circle."


seanwhalen@dailynebraskan.com