Huskers Lose 2-0 to No. 23 Michigan

The Nebraska softball team went toe-to-toe with No. 23 Michigan for the second straight game Thursday, but the Huskers came up short of an upset with a 2-0 loss in game two after Michigan won game one 2-1 in eight innings.

Right-hander Courtney Wallace continued the impressive start to her junior season against the Wolverines, allowing only two runs in 5.0 innings in a losing effort. Wallace (2-1) has posted a 2.37 ERA over her first five appearances and 23.2 innings. Freshman right-hander Caitlynn Neal made her Husker debut in the circle, tossing a scoreless sixth inning.

Alex Storako (3-1) tossed a two-hit shutout with 19 strikeouts to earn the win. Behind her effort, Michigan improved to 6-2 on the season, while Nebraska fell to 3-5.

 

The game was scoreless through three innings until Michigan used a two-out rally to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Wolverines had a runner at first with two outs before a single was followed by a two-run single from Lauren Esman to bring home the only runs of the game.

 

Nebraska got its first hit of the game on a one-out single from senior Rylie Unzicker in the top of the sixth. Unzicker stole second base with two outs but was left stranded there.

Senior Cam Ybarra then led off the top of the seventh inning with a double but freshman pinch runner Camyl Armendariz was left on second base as Nebraska came up just short against the Wolverines for the second straight game.

 

Nebraska wraps up its three-game neutral site series with No. 23 Michigan with a single game on Friday at 12:30 p.m. (Central).