Offense Leads Huskers on Saturday

Lincoln - Powered by an offense that scored 22 runs, the Nebraska softball team split a pair of exhibition games Saturday at Bowlin Stadium on day one of the Husker Fall Classic. NU opened the day with an 11-9 victory over Colorado State, before falling to UNO, 14-11.

In game one, Colorado led 3-1 after three innings before the Huskers plated five runs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Rachel Arthur had an RBI double in the frame, while junior Kiki Stokes added a sacrifice fly. The score remained 6-3 until the seventh, when Nebraska exploded for a second five-run inning. Sophomore Kat Woolman opened the scoring with a two-run single, before senior Steph Pasquale capped the inning with a three-run homer. The Huskers took an 11-3 lead to the bottom of the seventh, but Colorado State rallied for six runs in its final at bat to make the final score 11-9.

In game two against UNO, Nebraska jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning following an RBI single by freshman Kaylan Jablonski. The Mavs answered right back with four runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-2 lead. UNO stretched the lead to 5-2 before Nebraska rallied for four runs in the top of the third, highlighted by a bases-loaded, two-run double from Stokes. UNO answered right back and took an 8-6 lead with three runs in the bottom of the third. The Mavericks never trailed again. UNO stretched the lead to 14-6 before the Huskers attempted a rally in their final at bat. Trailing by eight in the top of the seventh, Nebraska a Stokes sacrifice fly, an RBI single from senior Kylee Muir and a two-run double from Pasquale pulled the Huskers to with 14-11, but that was as close as Nebraska would get.

After two high-scoring games on Saturday, the Huskers will face Colorado State and UNO again on Sunday. First pitch between Nebraska and CSU is set for 11 a.m. with the Huskers and Mavs set to conclude the Husker Fall Classic at 4 p.m. Admission to both games is free.