Huskers Fall to Hawkeyes in Game One, 4-2

The Nebraska softball team (23-10, 3-1 Big Ten) fell to Iowa in game one of a doubleheader, 4-2. 

The Huskers tallied six hits including a two-run homer from Brooke Andrews while Mya Felder added two hits. 

The Hawkeyes (21-12, 3-1 Big Ten) recorded five hits. Sammy Diaz led the Iowa offense with two RBI. 

Courtney Wallace (14-6) recorded the loss for the Huskers, pitching 6.0 innings, allowing four runs (three earned). 

Breann Vasquez (10-2) earned the win in the circle for Iowa. Vasquez pitched 6.0 innings, giving up five hits, while Denali Loecker earned the save pitching the final inning.

The Huskers reached scoring position in the top of the second. With one out, Brooke Andrews reached first after a fielding error from Iowa’s left fielder. Andrews stole second, but she was stranded, as NU was held scoreless for the second inning in a row. 

The Hawkeyes took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. A leadoff walk put a runner at first. A fielder’s choice got the lead runner out.  A single to right field gave Iowa runners at first and second. The second walk of the inning loaded the bases. A two-run single from Sammy Diaz gave Iowa the first two runs of the game as runners advanced to second and third on a throwing error. Anna Streff grounded out to third base, driving in the third run of the inning as the Hawkeyes took the early 3-0 advantage. 

Iowa threatened to add to its lead in the bottom of the fourth. A single to third gave the Hawkeyes a leadoff baserunner at first. A fielder’s choice to second gave NU the first out. A wild pitch advanced a runner to second. A ground out allowed the runner to advance to third, but Nebraska recorded the third out with a ground out to shortstop to keep Iowa’s lead at 3-0. 

Nebraska looked to score, loading the bases with no outs in the fifth inning. Brooke Andrews led the inning off with a double down the left line. Bredwell was walked and Squier was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Carter reached on a fielder’s choice as the first out was at home. A pop up and a strikeout stranded three runners as NU remained scoreless. 

Brooke Andrews hit a two-run homer to left field in the top of the sixth to bring the Huskers within one. Felder led off with a double to left center. Alina Felix entered as the pinch runner for Felder, advancing to third after a one-out ground out. Andrews smashed her seventh homer of the season with a two-run shot. The Huskers went into the bottom of the sixth inning down, 3-2. 

The Hawkeyes added one in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out solo homer from Brylee Klosertman to extend the Iowa lead to 4-2. 

The Big Red looked to rally late as Billie Andrews hit a two-out double, but  NU was unable to capitalize, falling 4-2 in game to the Hawkeyes. 

The Huskers return to action at 4:16 p.m. to face Iowa in game two of a doubleheader. Fans can listen to the action live on the Huskers Radio Network and Huskers.com with the call from Nate Rohr. The game will also have live television coverage on the Big Ten Network.