Huskers Drop Game One to Cowgirls

The Nebraska softball team fell to 4-2 on the year after dropping game one of the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational to No. 5 Oklahoma State (5-1) in Clearwater, Fla. The Huskers were held to one-hit as the Cowgirls claimed the 10-0 victory in five innings. 

Courtney Wallace (3-1) recorded the loss in the circle. The senior pitched 3.0 innings while giving up six hits and five runs. 

Kyra Aycock earned her first collegiate win, pitching the complete game and holding NU to only one hit. 

Offensively, Caitlynn Neal was the only Husker to record a hit which came in the final inning of the game with a shot down the left field line. Neal was also the only baserunner of the day for NU. 

The Cowgirls took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. A hit-by-pitch, double and a walk loaded the bases. The Huskers recorded two outs but Chyenne Factor hit a triple to left field, scoring three. A pop up got NU out of the inning. 

OSU added two more in the bottom of the third. With one out, a single to right put a runner on first. NU was able to record the second out, but a triple scored the runner while a single to second scored the second. The Cowgirls took a 5-0 lead into the fourth inning. 

Redshirt freshman Kendall Mangel made her collegiate debut in the circle in the bottom of the fourth. A bunt put the leadoff batter on first. With one out, the Cowgirls added another bunt, putting runners on first and second. NU’s defense recorded the third out with a fielder’s choice at third, but a triple scored two more runs for Oklahoma State. With runners on first and third, Morgan Wynne hit a three-run homer for the Cowgirls to extend the lead to 10-0. 

Nebraska’s only hit came in the top of the fifth when Caitlynn Neal hit a shot down the left field line, but OSU was able to work out of the inning, claiming the five-inning run-rule victory, 10-0. 

The Huskers return to action at approximately 6 p.m. (CT). NU will face #2 UCLA for game two of the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational. Fans can listen to the action live on Huskers Radio Network and Huskers.com with the call from Nate Rohr. 

Game Notes

• Kendall Mangel made her collegiate debut in the circle. Mangel took over as the pitcher in the bottom of the fourth inning.