Nebraska softball defeats Montana 15-4 and Sacramento State 5-4 in doubleheader
Nebraska softball claims two wins in its second doubleheader of the Troy Cox Classic in Las, Cruces, N.M. The Huskers are now 5-3 on the season and 3-1 in the classic.
In game one, the Huskers dominated Montana to win 15-4 behind 13 runs in the fourth inning. The Husker entered the inning down 4-1 and added a run in the fifth to help them run-rule the Grizzlies. In the second game, NU defeated Sacramento State 5-4 behind two runs in the third and fourth innings.
Next up, Nebraska rematches Sacramento State at 10:00 a.m. CT on Sunday, Feb. 18. The game can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network.
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Injuries continue to impact the Huskers.
On Saturday, shortstop Billie Andrews was out and in concussion protocol. She didn’t play in Friday’s doubleheader vs. New Mexico State. Additionally, second baseman Katelyn Caneda did not play. She suffered a left-hand injury in the second game vs. NMSU. Caneda did pinch run, with a protective glove on her hand, during the first game.
Below is a recap of both games and a few thoughts on Nebraska’s offensive momentum:
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Nebraska softball run rules Montana 15-4
Husker right-handed pitcher Sarah Harness started against Montana. The senior struggled to find the strike zone and gave up four hits and four unearned runs in the first inning. She settled in a little more and pitched 2.2 innings. Harness allowed five hits, four runs and walked one player.
Right-handed pitcher Grace Haegele began in the circle for Montana. She was pulled after three innings and allowed five runs in the fourth inning.
The Huskers started strong on offense. They scored in the first half-inning after Brooke Andrews got on base with a single through the left side. First baseman Bella Bacon knocked a single to right field to move Andrews from second to home plate.
However, NU’s defense did not start as strong. They committed two fielding errors and then Jocelyn Eisen loaded the bases with an infield single. Additionally, Nebraska missed a tag at first base for Eisen to advance. Riley Stockton hit a single to second for two RBI. She then stole second on a wild pitch and eventually scored after Jessica Stanfield and Grace Hardy hit singles.
The Grizzlies scored four unearned runs behind multiple Husker mistakes.
Both teams were mostly quiet in the second. Ashley Smetter had a single with no outs, but Neal grounded out to end the inning. Smetter had two good plays in the second half of the inning and NU went 1-2-3.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Emmerson Cope took over for Harness in the bottom of the third. Harness walked Stanfield with two outs and her day was done. Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said on the Huskers Radio Network that the senior needed to limit walks on Saturday.
Cope earned her first win as a Husker. She pitched 1.1 innings and allowed two hits.
Nebraska softball absolutely busted the game open in the top of the fourth. They entered the inning down 4-1 and left it up 11-4. They scored 13 runs on 10 hits. NU had 17 batters in the top of the fourth and 13 scored.
NU went through three pitchers in the fourth. Haegele’s game was down after walking three batters and loading the bases. Haegele finished the day with allowing three hits, five runs, three walks and two strikeouts.
Emmalyn Brinka pitched two outs and allowed eight runs with three earned runs. NU got eight hits off the sophomore. Rylee Rebhein pitched one inning in the fourth inning and allowed one run. She pitched one more innings and finished with five allowed hits, two runs, one walk and one strikeout.
In the half inning, Nebraska softball recorded one home run (Sydney Gray‘s first of the season), six doubles (two from Sammie Bland) and three singles.
After Montana left two on base in the bottom of the fourth, NU’s bats stayed hot. Catcher Ava Bredwell started the inning with her first home run of the season. The Huskers left the bases loaded after singles from Bacon and Alina Felix. However, back-to-back outs ended the inning. NU took a 15-4 lead.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Caitlin Olensky came in for Cope to end the game. She had one strikeout in the bottom of the fifth and helped her defense retire two other batters to end the game.
Huskers defeat Sacramento State 5-4
Yet again, Nebraska softball gave up a run in the first inning. Haley Hanson recorded a lead-off single and then Gwen Ludwig reached first base after an error by Smetter. Both Hanson and Ludwig stole bases to be on third and second. Lewa Day‘s sacrificed bunt does its job to help Hanson score.
NU grounded out Andrea Lira and Alexis Parish back-to-back to end the inning down 1-0.
Hornet left-handed pitcher Caroline Evans sat down the three Husker batters in the bottom of the first. She helped her team sustain its offensive momentum. Sacramento State scored another run in the second due to two singles and a sacrifice bunt.
Husker right-handed pitcher Kaylin Kinney started in the circle for NU. After a tough first inning, Kinney had three strikeouts in the second and third innings. Nebraska had one strikeout in its first game which was by Olensky.
Gray earned Nebraska’s first hit of the game with one out in the second. However, she was left on base.
NU loaded the bases in the third as Neal was walked and Andrews was hit by a pitch. Bredwell hit a two-out single to fill the bases. Bacon’s hit up the middle bounced off the second baseman’s glove to earn 2 RBIs and tie the game.
After Samantha Parish had a lead-off single in the top of the fourth, Kinney and her defense retired the next three batters.
St. John’s transfer Peyton Cody launched her first home run as a Husker to deep right field to start the bottom of the fourth. Felix backed her up with a single and Neal added one as well. With the bases loaded, Andrews grounded out but Smetter scored. Bredwell flied out for the final out. Nebraska softball went up 4-2.
Kinney didn’t allow her first batter on base in the top of the fifth. However, Ludwig, the second batter, hit bunt down the left field line for a single. NU’s defense retired the next two batters.
Bacon started the Husker half of the fifth inning with a single through the left side. Sacramento State put in right-handed pitcher Keelen Smith after the hit.
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In four innings, Evans allowed five runs, seven hits, two walks and one strikeout. Her ERA was a 2.62. Smith pitched the last three innings and gave up one hit.
As for Kinney, the trend continues the lead-off sixth inning hitter, Alexis Parish, got on base. Her sister Samantha Parish was next up and had a single of her own. Bland turned a grounder into a double play. Alexis Parish scored on an RBI single from pinch hitter Melissa George.
Sacramento State scored another run in the top of the seventh but it was too little, too late.
Kinney earned her third win of the season. She pitched six innings while allowing nine hits, three runs and had three strikeouts. Cope took over for the seventh inning and earned her second save. The freshman allowed one run and two hits in one inning.
Nebraska softball picks up offensive momentum
Nebraska scored as many runs in its 15-4 win over Montana than it had in its first six games.
The Huskers put together a stealler fourth inning with 10 hits and 13 runs. They had six doubles in the inning which was their most in a game since beating CSUN in March of 2023.
NU has struggled to get offensive momentum throughout its first six games. They’ve had three doubleheaders. Saturday’s was the first time NU scored in the first game of the day.
Sammie Bland was Nebraska softball’s lead-off hitter in their last three games. She did a great job of sparking NU. On Saturday, she had two doubles in the first game but cooled off in the second.
Outfielder Alina Felix has found confidence at the plate. With several outfielders out with injuries, Felix has played in seven games this season. She has three straight multiple hit games. The sophomore didn’t have a multiple hit game in her Husker career until New Mexico State.
Felix has three RBI and six hits this season. All have been in Las Cruces, N.M. She didn’t record a hit in her first four games of the 2024 season.
Bella Bacon earned three RBIs on Saturday. She had one before the doubleheader. She also had four hits, more than her three in NU’s first six games. The first baseman is gaining confidence at the plate as well.
Nebraska’s offense has many capable pieces but just need them to put it all together. When that happens, great things occur, just ask Montana.
