Huskers Hit Way Past South Dakota, 18-7

Lincoln - A nine-run third inning powered the Nebraska softball team to an 18-7 victory over South Dakota in a pre-determined 10-inning exhibition on a warm Sunday afternoon at Bowlin Stadium.

The Huskers scored 14 runs over the first three innings, and their nine-run third answered the six runs South Dakota put up in the top of the frame. Nebraska pounded out 17 hits in the victory, as seniors Mattie Fowler and Kiki Stokes, juniors Rachel Arthur and MJ Knighten and sophomores Kaylan Jablonski and Austen Urness all produced multiple hits.

Jablonski finished 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, a grand slam and six RBIs. Knighten also homered and drove in three runs, while Fowler, Stokes and freshman Alyvia Simmons each added a pair of RBIs.

In the circle, junior Cassie McClure earned the start and allowed two earned runs on only two hits in 3.0 innings. Freshman Taylor Kadavy surrendered just one run over 4.0 innings before senior right-hander Emily Lockman tossed 3.0 scoreless innings and allowed only one hit.

Nebraska jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Stokes reached on an error to begin the frame before Knighten singled and senior Alicia Armstrong was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jablonski then launched a 2-0 pitch over the fence in left center for a grand slam.

The Huskers added another run in the bottom of the second when Jablonski drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Arthur, who got the rally started with a one-out single.

South Dakota got some help from the Huskers while putting up six runs in the top of the third to take a 6-5 lead. The Coyotes had only two hits in the inning, benefitting from one Husker error and four walks. A leadoff single marked the Coyotes' first hit of the game, before a pair of one-out walks loaded the bases. An error allowed one run to score before a walk brought in another run. After Nebraska picked up its second out, Taylor Steinfeldt lined a three-run double over the head of Simmons in right field. Steinfeldt's bases-clearing double gave South Dakota the lead, but she was thrown out attempting to stretch the double into a triple.

In the bottom of the frame, Fowler singled, McClure walked and sophomore Austen Urness singled to load the bases with no outs. Simmons then won an 11-pitch at bat with a two-run double off the fence in center that scored sophomore pinch runners Taylor Otte and Gina Metzler to give Nebraska the lead back at 7-6. Following an out at home, Arthur grounded an RBI single up the middle to score Simmons and give Nebraska an 8-6 advantage.

Stokes was then hit by a pitch to load the bases again before Knighten lined a two-run double that one-hopped the fence in left to give NU a 10-6 lead. A walk to Armstrong loaded the bases for Jablonski for the third straight inning. Jablonski drove in her sixth run with a sharp single to left. Fowler then made the most of her second at bat of the inning, lining a two-run single to right center to push the lead to 13-6. Freshman Bri Cassidy then came on as a pinch hitter and lined an RBI single to left to cap the nine-run inning that gave Nebraska a 14-6 lead.

After both teams were held scoreless in the fourth, Knighten sent the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth inning over the fence in center for a leadoff home run. Sophomore Madi Unzicker followed with a sacrifice fly three batters later to give Nebraska a 16-6 lead.

South Dakota got a run back in the top of the seventh on a two-out, RBI single from Yvon Minogue.

The Huskers added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. A trio of walks loaded the bases with two outs for Stokes, who lined a two-run single down to right field.

Following a weekend sweep of South Dakota, Nebraska returns to action on Wednesday against Bellevue University. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Bowlin Stadium and admission is free.