No. 18 Nebraska softball outlast Utah Valley 3-2 behind strong pitching and defensive effort
No. 18 Nebraska softball ended its first tournament of the 2024 season with a bang. The Huskers defeated Utah Valley 3-2 as left fielder Samantha Bland made a diving catch for the final out with a runner on third base.
The Huskers were without Caitlynn Neal, a starting outfielder. Freshman Samantha Bland and sophomore Alina Felix both stepped up big time. Felix made a great catch in the bottom of the sixth for the third out. Bland earned her first RBI and had the game-winning catch.
Against LBSU, Neal was standing on third base and got hit in the hand by a foul ball. It has swollen up, so she is out of Nebraska’s starting lineup for Saturday. Outfielder Dakota Carter was also out as her right arm is in a sling. She is day-to-day and did not play in Nebraska’s first four games.
Join HuskerOnline today and get your first month of a premium subscription for just $1!
Nebraska right-handed pitcher Sarah Harness got the start after throwing three innings vs. Duke on Friday. She allowed two hits and two runs in 3.2 innings. After Harness gave up a two-run homer to Peyton Hall, Kaylin Kinney relieved her.
Kinney pitched a no-hitter in the final 3.1 innings against UVU. In the bottom of the seventh, she hit the back leg of centerfielder Angelique Mann to give the Wolverines their first base in 3.1 innings.
Nebraska’s pitching, defense and three runs in the second and third innings helped them finish the Puerta Vallarta (Mexico) Challenge 2-2.
Nebraska struck first and scored two runs in the top of the second.
Third baseman Sydney Gray started the inning with a double to right field. First baseman Bella Bacon brought her home with a double down the right-field line. Second baseman Katelyn Caneda executed a great sacrifice bunt to move Bacon to third. Bland hit a single to bring Bacon home.
The Huskers took a 2-0 lead over Utah Valley.
NU took out Utah Valley’s starting pitcher Payge Armendariz after 1.1 innings. She gave up four hits and two runs with no strikeouts. Right-handed pitcher Halle Morris entered the circle and did a great job vs. a red-hot Nebraska offense. In 5.2 innings, she gave up one run (Billie Andrews’ homer) and two hits with one strikeout.
No. 18 Nebraska softball goes 1-1 in Puerto Vallarta Challenge doubleheader
In the top of the third, Billie Andrews hit her second home run of the season against Morris and Utah Valley. She crushed it through the longest part of the field to give NU a 3-0 lead.
Freshman Peyton Hall’s first career home run came at a perfect time for Utah Valley. Her left-field bomb in the bottom of the fourth earned two RBIs to close the Huskers’ lead to 3-2. Afterward, Kinney replaced Harness in the circle.
With the end of the game drawing near, Felix made an incredible catch to end the sixth inning. She ran full speed to make a sliding catch in foul territory in right field for the third out.
In the bottom of the seventh, Kinney hit Mann in her back leg to allow her first Wolverine on base. Husker catcher Ava Bredwell let a ball by her and Mann stole second base to get in scoring position.
Kinney didn’t bat an eye and struck out Hall. Nielsen was grounded out next. With Mann on third, junior pinch hitter Rachael Brown is called out after Bland makes a diving catch for the win.
Her teammates ran into the outfield to celebrate Bland’s catch. She recorded her first career RBI vs. UVU as well.
Nebraska Softball Head Coach Rhonda Revelle knew that Nebraska’s defense would not be up to par yet during the first tournament. It is normally something that takes a few games to strengthen each season.
The Huskers’ defense settled in and made a handful of great catches and plays to take down the Wolverines. Bacon stretched out for a few balls, doing the splits in the process to make the catch.
Nebraska should be proud of how they improved throughout the tournament, especially after two top-15 losses.
Nebraska’s pitching staff is still strong without Bahl
Nebraska softball suffered a big loss when star pitcher Jordy Bahl went down with a knee injury in their third inning of the season. Her status for the remainder of the season is unknown. However, the two-time National Champion did not play in NU’s opening tournament.
With the Oklahoma transfer out, the Huskers turned to right-handed pitchers Kaylin Kinney and Sarah Harness as their starters. Both are experienced pitchers for NU.
Kinney returned to the circle after suffering a serious hand injury in February 2023. In four games, she pitched 12.1 innings and allowed five runs. She struck out six batters.
The senior came in after Bahl went down and freshman lefty Caitlin Olensky gave up three runs to No. 7 Washington. She took over for the last out of the third inning and finished the game without allowing a hit.
Kinney relieved Harness in the fourth inning against Utah Valley. She didn’t allow a player on base until she hit the back leg of Mann. Mann stole second after the ball got by Bredwell. Kinney struck out the next batter.
No. 18 Nebraska softball run-ruled by No. 7 Washington after Jordy Bahl goes down in Husker debut
During Harness’s 8.1 innings over three games, she allowed six runs, with two in each game. The senior did a great job against Utah Valley until the two-run homer.
Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said on the Huskers Radio Network that she was pleasantly surprised by Olensky. After giving up a three-run homer to her second ever batter in college, the left-handed pitcher ask Revelle to get her back in the circle. Olensky admitted to Revelle that she was pretty nervous in her first game after being thrown in after Bahl.
Olensky pitched two innings against Duke. The Montville N.J. native gave up one run and struck out two batters. More experience at the next level with only make Olensky better.
Nebraska, Husker fans and softball fans across the country hope that Bahl heals quickly and comes back strong. But even with Bahl, the Huskers have a solid pitching staff. The addition of Bahl would make them great.
