NU Comeback Falls Just Short in 4-3 Loss

Lincoln – The Nebraska softball team scored three times in the sixth inning and had the tying runner in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but the Huskers’ comeback bid fell just short in a 4-3 loss to Wisconsin in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium.

Wisconsin led 4-0 after five innings before the Huskers plated three runs in the sixth to pull within one. NU then had the tying run in scoring position with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but could not complete the comeback. Wisconsin (14-17) managed a split in the doubleheader after Nebraska (16-15) won the first game, 9-4.

 

For the third straight game, Wisconsin scored multiple times in the first inning. Junior right-hander Courtney Wallace hit the first batter of the game before Fiona Girardot hit a routine fly ball to right that fell for a double after senior Tristen Edwards lost the ball in the sun. Megan Donahue then followed with a two-run single to give the Badgers an early 2-0 lead.

 

The Badgers stretched the lead to 3-0 on a Donahue solo home run with one out in the top of the third.

 

Nebraska didn’t hit the ball out of the infield until the bottom of the fourth. Senior Cam Ybarra doubled to right center with two outs and junior Peyton Glatter followed with a single to right, but Ybarra was thrown out at home trying to score from second.

 

In the top of the fifth, a leadoff walk and a single put two runners on for Donahue, who delivered an RBI single to left to make it 4-0.

 

Nebraska pulled to within one with a three-run sixth. Senior Rylie Unzicker was hit by a pitch with one out and stole second. She scored NU’s first run on a Wisconsin error that also allowed freshman Billie Andrews to reach base. Edwards then walked and Ybarra followed with a single. Trailing 4-1, the Huskers had the bases loaded with one out for Glatter, who hit an RBI single just fair down the left field line. With Wisconsin’s lead cut to 4-2, Nebraska still had the bases loaded for freshman Caitlynn Neal, who scored Edwards with a sacrifice fly to left. An error on the throw home put Huskers on second and third before a ground out ended the inning.

 

Freshman right-hander Kaylin Kinney, who took over for Wallace to start the sixth inning, worked around a two-out error in a scoreless top of the seventh. Kinney then reached on a one-out error in the bottom of hte seventh and was at second with two outs before a ground out ended the game.

Kinney tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, allowing only one walk. Wallace (7-7) took the loss, allowing four runs in 5.0 innings. Offensively, Ybarra and Glatter each had two hits, while Glatter and Neal produced Nebraska’s two RBIs.

Maddie Schwartz (8-9) earned the complete game victory for Wisconsin, and only one of the three runs she allowed was earned.

 

Nebraska and Wisconsin wrap up their four-game series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.