NU Falls in Eight Innings

The Nebraska softball team rallied from a three-run deficit in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader with Michigan State, but the Huskers could not complete the comeback, falling to the Spartans 6-3 in eight innings.

Michigan State scored three times in the top of the third inning, but Nebraska pulled even with single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings. A trio of timely, well-placed singles led to a three-run eighth inning and lifted the Spartans (1-3) to their first win of the year.

Timely hitting was the story of the game, as Nebraska stranded 11 base runners. The Huskers were just 3-for-16 with runners on base and 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Senior Tristen Edwards paced the Husker offense with a 1-for-3 day that included two walks and a game-tying solo home run in the sixth inning. Freshman Abbie Squier was the only other Husker to produe an RBI in the game.

Senior Olivia Ferrell (1-2) took the loss in relief for Nebraska (2-2). Ferrell pitched the final 3.0 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) with four strikeouts. Junior Courtney Wallace allowed three runs (two earned) in 5.0 innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Ashley Miller tossed 5.0 innings of two-hit relief, allowing only one run to earn the win for Michigan State.

Michigan State took its first lead of the doubleheader by plating three runs in the top of the third. A leadoff single and a one-out single put runners at the corners for Caitie Ladd, who produced an RBI double. A two-run single from Kendall Kates then put MSU on top 3-0.

Nebraska answered in the bottom of the frame. Freshman Billie Andrews led off with a single and stole second base. A passed ball moved her up to third base with two outs, and she scored on a Michigan State error. Trailing 3-1, another error and a single from sophomore Keana “KP” Pola loaded the bases before a strikeout ended the inning.

After leaving the bases loaded in the third, the Huskers stranded two more runners in the fourth.

The fifth inning began with two more base runners as Ferrell drew a leadoff walk and Wallace reached on an infield single. After a failed bunt attempt, junior pinch hitter Peyton Glatter worked a walk to load the bases with one out. Squier cut the lead to 3-2 with an RBI fielder’s choice that scored sophomore pinch runner Brooke Andrews. Senior Rylie Unzicker was then hit by a pitch but Nebraska left the bases loaded for the second time in three innings.

In the top of the sixth, it was Nebraska’s turn to pitch its way out of a jam. Ferrell entered the game to start the inning and the Spartans loaded the bases with one out. But Ferrell recorded a strikeout and a fly out to keep it a 3-2 game.

Edwards then tied the game with a home run to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Michigan State center fielder Courtney Callahan nearly robbed the home run, as she reached up above the top of the fence, but the ball deflected off her glove.

Tied 3-3, both teams sent only three batters to the plate in the seventh inning to take the game to extra innings.

Pinch runner Katie Quinlan began the top of the eighth inning on second base per the international tiebreaker rule. Following a strikeout, a ground ball found its way through the right side for an RBI single that scored Quinlan with the go-ahead run. A one-out RBI single and a two-out RBI single pushed the Spartan lead to 6-3.

Squier began the bottom of the eighth inning on second for Nebraska. She advanced to third with one out but was left stranded there.

The Huskers complete the opening weekend with a Sunday doubleheader against Ohio State beginning at 2:30 p.m. (Central).