Nebraska softball splits doubleheader in Kansas

The halfway point of the season came and went in the form of a doubleheader for Nebraska softball, who split the twin bill in Lawrence, Kansas. The Huskers topped Kansas City 12-2 in the early afternoon and lost 6-4 to Kansas hours later, a solid but uneven non-conference season nearing its conclusion.

Nebraska jumped on Kansas City starting pitcher Audrey Danielson for three runs in the first inning, then another in the second before she exited without retiring a batter. Billie Andrews led off the game with a walk, advanced to second on a groundout, then to third on a wild pitch before scoring on another groundout to get the Huskers on the board.

Katelyn Caneda plated two more with a double as Nebraska took a 3-0 lead before Kansas City had come to the plate.

NU added five more in the second. Sydney Gray singled home Abbie Squier and eventually stole home on a double steal with runners on the corners. Brooke Andrews, Caneda and Talia Tokheim all drove in runs as Nebraska broke the game open.

Mya Felder’s three-run homer in the fifth put the Huskers in position to finish the contest early on the run rule. Caitlynn Neal had chipped in an RBI single two innings earlier.

Courtney Wallace started in the circle for Nebraska, pitching two innings, striking out two and allowing one run when the Roos sandwiched a sacrifice bunt between a pair of singles in the second inning.

Kansas City shortstop Sydney Nichols drove in another in the third with a single off of Kendall Mangel. Sarah Harness closed the game with two scoreless frames.

Wallace had retired 12 of the previous 14 batters she faced in the second game when Kansas left fielder Presley Lindbaugh stepped to the plate. The Jayhawks had pushed a run across in the first inning, but a groundout and strikeout stranded three as Wallace escaped relatively unscathed and with Nebraska in front. She cruised through the next three frames.

But Linbaugh, the second batter in the fifth, tapped a single through the left side. Things snowballed on the Huskers from there. Caneda dropped a pop fly that would have been the second out, and Ashlyn Anderson chopped a base hit up the middle two batters later, driving in a pair of runs to tie the score.

Kansas took the lead on an Aynslee Linduff single that brought home two more.

Nebraska had a chance to extend the game in the seventh inning after Squier and Billie Andrews singled. Both advanced on a wild pitch with two outs before Felder grounded out to end the game.

Felder put Nebraska on the board with a two-run shot to center in the first inning, and Squier tacked on another with a solo shot in the third. Caneda nearly tied the score after the Kansas rally with a double off the wall that nearly left the yard. Kansas added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning on an Olivia Bruno single.

The Huskers will play their first home game of the season Wednesday against Iowa State. Big Ten play begins two days later when Purdue comes to Lincoln.