Nebraska softball’s comeback attempt falls short against Wichita State

Through the first 20 games of the season, Nebraska has been guided by its pitching staff, a rotation that has allowed three runs or fewer 15 times and contributed to the Huskers’ 3-1 record in one-run games.

But in one of the biggest tests of the year, the steadying force became the problem. No. 23 Wichita State jumped on No. 24 Nebraska early and tacked on enough insurance to overcome a resilient Husker offense to  win 10-8.

In a hole early after a pair of Shocker crooked numbers, Nebraska made one last charge in the seventh inning. Freshman Talia Tokheim launched her second homer of the game to cut the four-run deficit in half with nobody out. Four batters later, Caitlynn Neal came to the plate representing the go-ahead run with one out against a faltering Allison Cooper in her fifth inning of work.

Neal cracked a hard line drive directly at second baseman Sami Hood. Andrews didn’t have time to get back to first and was doubled up to end the rally and the game.

A patient approach got WSU on the board in the first inning, fouling pitches off and working the count as Nebraska (14-7) starting pitcher Sarah Harness walked four in the first inning. Three runs came across on a Lauren Lucas double and Taylor Sedlacek bases-loaded walk.

Sedlacek’s laser over the left-field wall for a grand slam with Kendall Mangell in the circle an inning later put Wichita State up 8-1. The Shockers (17-4) had already added to their lead in the second when Sydney McKinney tripled over Neal’s head in center field and scored after Brooke Andrews mishandled the throw to third.

Sedlacek’s homer closed the book on Harness’ night: three hits, six walks and seven runs — but only two earned as a result of a pair of Husker errors — in 1 1/3 innings as she struggled with her command.

Mangel shook off the grand slam and pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) in her second collegiate appearance. She retired four straight after the homer and limited the damage of the next Wichita State rally. The Shockers loaded the bases with none out, but their only run came on a double play that effectively ended the threat.

Mangell had thrown just a lone inning entering the evening. Harness, Courtney Wallace and Kaylin Kinney had handled almost the entirety of the pitching in the early part of the season.

As Mangell worked, Nebraska chipped away at WSU’s lead. Katelyn Caneda bounced a single through the middle to drive in a run. Andrews followed with a double that plated two more. Caneda came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Tokheim.

The Huskers will be in Wichita all weekend and play Missouri State on Saturday.