Huskers Push Past Penn State, 8-2

Lincoln – The top of the order powered another strong offensive performance for the Nebraska softball team Saturday, as the Huskers took game one of a doubleheader against Penn State by a score of 7-2.

The first three hitters in the Husker lineup – senior Tristen Edwards, freshman Billie Andrews and senior Cam Ybarra – combined to go 8-for-10 with a double, a triple, two home runs, six runs scored and five RBIs. Edwards was 2-for-3 with a double, and she scored twice. Andrews finished 3-for-4 with a triple, a homer, two runs scored and three RBIs, setting career highs in hits, runs and RBIs while slugging her first career home run. Ybarra was perfect with a 3-for-3 day that included a walk, a homer, two runs and three RBIs. Freshman Sydney Gray doubled, drove in a run and had an RBI, while junior Peyton Glatter was 1-for-2 with an RBI.

In the circle, junior right-hander Courtney Wallace tossed a three-hitter to earn the victory. Wallace (4-2) allowed two runs and retired 10 straight batters at one point.

Kylee Lingenfelter (0-5) took the loss for Penn State (0-14), allowing four runs on six hits in 3.0 innings.

Penn State threatened to grab an early lead in the top of the first. A leadoff double and a walk put Nittany Lions on first and second with no outs. A force out put runners on first and third with one out when a pitch got away from catcher Ally Riley. But Riley quickly recovered and threw to Wallace at home to tag out the Penn State runner attempting to score.

Nebraska then opened the scoring in the bottom of the third. Edwards lined a one-out double down the right field line before Billie Andrews delivered an RBI triple. The Huskers made it 2-0 when Andrews scored on an RBI single from Ybarra. Then with two outs, Gray doubled off the top of the fence in right center to plate Ybarra and push the lead to 3-0. Glatter followed with an RBI single up the middle to cap the four-run frame.

In the fourth, Edwards reached on a two-out single before Billie Andrews launched a two-run homer to right. Andrews’ first career home run gave Nebraska a 6-0 lead. Ybarra made it back-to-back home runs to push the lead to 7-0.

Penn State cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fifth on back-to-back two-out, RBI doubles.

Leading 7-2, Nebraska added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, freshman Kaylin Kinney scored sophomore pinch runner Brooke Andrews with an RBI ground out to close out the scoring.