Wallace Pitches Huskers Past Buckeyes

Junior right-hander Courtney Wallace was outstanding in a complete-game effort and the Husker offense tacked on a critical insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, as the Nebraska softball team held on for a 2-1 victory over Ohio State Sunday, splitting their doubleheader with the Buckeyes.

Wallace, who was one out away from her first career shutout, moved to 2-0 on the season. She fired a seven-hitter and struck out six.

Nebraska led 1-0 entering the final inning before senior Cam Ybarra delivered a key insurance run with an RBI double. With a runner on second and down to its last out, Ohio State strung together three straight two-out singles, cutting the lead in half before Wallace wrapped up the win by coaxing a ground out with the bases loaded.

With the win, Nebraska split a Big Ten Conference doubleheader for the third straight day to even its record at 3-3. Allison Smith (0-2) took the loss for Ohio State, which also finished the opening weekend with a 3-3 record. Smith allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits in 6.1 innings.

Offensively for Nebraska, Ybarra finished 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, senior Rylie Unzicker was 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored and freshman Billie Andrews was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Seniors Tristen Edwards (1-for-3) and Ally Riley (1-for-3) also had a hit for the Big Red.

Nebraska jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Unzicker led off with a double down the right field line and scored on an RBI single from freshman Billie Andrews. Andrews moved up to second on the throw home but was stranded there after the next three Huskers were retired.

Unzicker also reached base to lead off the top of the fifth, drawing an eight-pitch walk. Senior Tristen Edwards then reached on a one-out infield single and senior Cam Ybarra walked to load the bases. But the Buckeyes turned an inning-ending double play to keep it a 1-0 game.

After Nebraska stranded a runner at second base with one out in the top of the sixth, Ohio State missed a big opportunity in the bottom of the sixth. A leadoff single, a Husker error and a sacrifice bunt put Buckeyes on second and third with one out. A squeeze bunt attempt was then popped up back to Wallace. She saw the ball pop out of her glove but alertly tagged out the runner heading home. A ground out to second then ended the threat.

In the top of the seventh, an error and a walk gave Nebraska runners at first and second with one out. Courtney Buresch then entered the game to pitch for Ohio State, and Ybarra greeted her with an RBI double to the fence in right to score Billie Andrews and double the Huskers lead at 2-0. The Huskers had a chance to tack on an insurance run or two with runners at second and third with one out but were unable to push another run across.

In the bottom of the seventh, Taylor Pack led off with a double. After Wallace retired the next two batters, a two-out single kept the game alive with Buckeyes on first and third. A bloop single then scored Ohio State’s first run of the game and another single loaded the bases with Buckeyes. Clinging to a 2-1 lead, Wallace jumped ahead of Mariah Rodriguez before getting her to ground out to third to end the game.

Nebraska is off next weekend before returning to Florida in two weeks for a pair of three-game series against No. 17 Michigan and Purdue.

Note: All stats in this story are unofficial. Official stats for the game are pending and will be posted as soon as they are available.