Huskers Fall in Game One to Jayhawks

The Nebraska softball team (6-5) fell to Kansas (7-4) Sunday afternoon, 13-5. Despite recording four doubles, the Huskers were unable to stop the Jayhawks offensive momentum throughout the game. 

Courtney Wallace (5-2) started in the circle for the Huskers. The senior pitched 2.1 innings giving up six hits and six runs. Kaylin Kinney pitched 3.0 innings while Caitlyn Neal came in during the bottom of the sixth for her first appearance in the circle this season. 

Offensively, sophomore Sydney Gray led the Huskers going 3-for-3 and adding two RBIs. 

Mya Felder added two doubles and three RBIs. 

For Kansas, Katie Brooks (3-2) recorded the win, walking three and giving up eight hits. Offensively, Savanna DesRochers led the Jayhawks going 4-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. 

The Jayhawks struck first in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Ashlyn Anderson doubled to right center. Shelby Gayre followed it up with a double down the right field line, scoring Anderson. The Huskers were able to get out of the inning after a ground out to second base.

Nebraska responded in the top of the second with a lead off double from Courtney Wallace. Mya Felder followed with a double to left field, scoring Wallace to even the game to 1-1. Kaylin Kinney popped up for the first out followed by a strike out from Brooke Andrews. Billie Andrews hit a single to left field, but Felder was tagged out at home. 

Kansas took the lead again in the bottom of the second. A walk and a single put a runner in scoring position. Lyric Moore doubled to left field to score one, making it 2-1. Haleigh Harper followed it with a single to right field, scoring two. NU was able to get out of the inning, but KU led 4-1 after two innings. 

In the top of the third, Cam Ybarra led off with a fly out to right field. Sydney Gray reached first on a single to right center field. Abbie Squier was hit by a pitch, advancing Gray to second. Peyton Glatter was walked to load the bases. Wallace reached first but Gray was out at home. Felder hit her second double of the day down the left field line, scoring two to cut Kansas’ lead to 4-3. 

The Jayhawks added two more in the bottom of the third. A walk put Olivia Bruno on base. The Huskers tallied the first out with a ground out to first base. Savanna DesRochers hit a two-run homer over the right center fence. Kaylin Kinney came in to pitch, and NU was able to record the last two outs and head into the fourth inning down, 6-3.  

The Huskers responded in the top of the fourth inning. Brooke Andrews started the inning off with a double down the left field line. Billie Andrews flied out, but advanced Brooke Andrews to second. Ybarra flied out, advancing Brooke Andrews to third. Gray followed with a strong hit to the shortstop, scoring Brooke Andrews to make it a 6-4 game. 

Kansas had their biggest inning of the game in the bottom of the fourth. A lead off walk followed by a double play gave the Huskers their first two outs. Bruno hit a single followed by Cheyenne Hornbuckle reaching first on an error by Ybarra. DesRochers hit a double to right field, scoring one. Moore followed with a single, advancing to third on a throwing error and scoring two. Harper followed with a single to bring in another run. The Huskers were able to get out of the inning, but went into the fifth down 10-4.

Nebraska added another run in the top of the sixth. Billie Andrews was walked and reached second on a ground out from Ybarra. Gray hit a single up the middle, scoring Billie Andrews. Squier was hit by a pitch, putting a runner in scoring position, but Glatter struck out. The Huskers went into the bottom of the sixth down 10-5. 

The Jayhawks finished the game after adding three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. DesRochers singled down the right side followed by a double from Moore to center field. Harper singled to left field, scoring DesRochers. Peyton Renzi doubled to right field, scoring Moore. Caitlyn Neal entered the game to pitch for Kinney. Madison Hirsch reached base on a fielder’s choice while the runner at home was out. The game ended after Renzi scored on a passed ball. 

The Huskers fall in game one, 13-5.

Nebraska will start the second game of the day at approximately 3:50 p.m. against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan. Live stats are available on Huskers.com and updates will be posted on Twitter (@HuskerSoftball).