With the Nebraska softball team about to kick off its campaign for its first national title, the first team standing in the Huskers' way is Michigan. When the Wolverines and Huskers square off on Thursday afternoon, there's one player who Rhonda Revelle's squad will worry about most. Lauren Putz is one of the best hitters in the game, but there's a bright side.
While Putz had an incredible season, batting .454 with 19 homers and 73 RBI. Her .993 slugging is not only the best among the Wolverines, but the best by a wide margin. Perhaps the most impressive part of her 2026 campaign is that Putz is just a freshman. And that might be her Achilles Heel.
Lauren Putz is the Michigan softball star Nebraska softball cannot let heat up
Nebraska has faced Putz before and survived. In fact, considering the kind of season the Wolverine slugger had, they did more than survive; they thrived. And they'll need to do it again to secure a win in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday.
The Huskers and Michigan faced off earlier in the season, and unsurprisingly, things didn't go the Wolverines' way. NU swept Putz's gang 5-2, 8-4, and 5-2. It's also not hard to figure out why Revelle's squad made short work of the Ann Arbor team. Its top slugger was held to her lowest possible impact.
Lauren Putz is dangerous, but Nebraska softball has shown it can keep her quiet
In the series, Lauren Putz drove in two of Michigan's eight total runs, but she struggled greatly otherwise. She finished the series against Nebraska going just 1-for-11. That she still managed to account for a quarter of the Wolverines' runs despite being otherwise dominated by the Cornhuskers' pitching shows just how dangerous she can be.
As good as the Nebraska softball team has been this season, it's unlikely they worry about much. However, they need to worry about Lauren Putz and hope they can keep her bat quiet. Should they manage to do that, they'll be headed to the next showdown in the Big Ten Tournament.
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