Huskers Drop Game Two to Purdue

After setting season highs in hits and runs in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader with Purdue, the Nebraska softball team was shut out in a 7-0 loss to the Boilermakers in game two in Leesburg, Fla.

Junior Courtney Wallace (3-2) took the loss, allowing four runs in 2.2 innings. Freshman Kaylin Kinney relieved Wallace and allowed three runs on six hits in a career-high 4.1 innings. Sydney Bates (2-1) earned the win for Purdue, tossing a four-hit shutout.

Purdue (4-7) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single from Rylee Platusic.

Nebraska (5-6) got a leadoff walk from senior Rylie Unzicker in the bottom of the first and a two-out double from freshman Sydney Gray in the bottom of the second but was unable to plate a run.

Purdue then added to its lead in the top of the third. A one-out walk was followed by back-to-back singles to give the Boilermakers a 2-0 lead. With runners on second and third and one out, Wallace coaxed a ground ball back to the circle and looked the runner back to third before throwing to first for the second out. But Nebraska then threw late behind the runner at second and on the throw, the runner from third came home to make it 3-0. Platusic then delivered her second RBI single of the game to push the lead to 4-0.

In the bottom of the third, Nebraska loaded the bases with two outs. Freshman Caitlynn Neal singled with one out, senior Tristen Edwards singled with two outs and senior Cam Ybarra followed with a walk, but a strikeout ended the inning.

Purdue pushed its lead to 6-0 in the top of the fifth when a leadoff walk was followed by an RBI triple from Kiley Goff and an RBI single from Cora Bassett.

The Boilermakers made it 7-0 in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI single.

Kinney helped herself with a two-out double in the bottom of the sixth, but she was stranded there as a pop out ended the inning.

Nebraska and Purdue will conclude their three-game series with a single game on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. (Central).