Former All-American to join NU softball team

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BY TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star

Already, the offseason has gone better for the Nebraska softball team than parts of last season.

Nebraska coach Rhonda Revelle on Thursday confirmed that pitcher Robin Mackin, an All-American at Fresno State a year ago, will join the Huskers as a transfer next season.

Mackin, who did not play this year while training with Team Canada in preparation for the Olympics, is a key addition to a pitching staff that ranked at the bottom of the Big 12 Conference in earned-run average last season.

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Nebraska finished with a 25-28 record and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 14 years.

“To add somebody that’s had international experience and also experienced enough success at the college level to be an All-American, it’s obviously a huge shot in the arm for our pitching staff,” Revelle said. “We ended the season on the highest note of the year, and that, coupled with the fact that Robin decided to come to Nebraska, our team is very hopeful for the future.”

In two seasons at Fresno State, Mackin went 64-25 with five saves,  while compiling a career ERA of 1.45. The native of Newmarket, Ontario, has 771 career strikeouts, an average of 9.2 per seven innings.

Mackin led the Western Athletic Conference in wins, strikeouts and ERA during both her freshman and sophomore years.

She will have two years of eligibility at Nebraska.

Mackin chose the Huskers over several other schools, no doubt in part because of her relationship with Team Canada head coach Lori Sippel. Sippel is Nebraska’s pitching coach and a former All-America pitcher for the Huskers.

“It wasn’t until Robin had already told Fresno State that she was leaving that she went to Lori and asked for her opinion on this school versus that school,” Revelle said. “She took four visits and after the fourth, she notified us of her decision.”

Mackin is one of three primary pitchers for Team Canada, which hopes to contend for a medal at the Beijing Games in August.

Briefly

Revelle announced Thursday that hitting coach Jennifer Ogee will not be returning next season. An announcement on a replacement could come as early as next week. ... Utility player Abby Hughes, who started eight games as a freshman, will transfer to Emporia State in Kansas.

Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.