Stokes Powers Huskers Past Colorado State

Lincoln - Sunday's final game of the Big Red Fall Classic turned into the Kiki Stokes show, as the senior led the Nebraska softball team to a 10-2 exhibition victory over Colorado State in eight innings at Bowlin Stadium.

Stokes finished a triple shy of the cycle, reaching base four times while finishing 3-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and four RBIs. Stokes began the game with a single, stole second and scored on an RBI single from sophomore Laura Barrow to open the scoring.

After a terrific diving catch in center field to end the bottom of the first inning, Stokes gave Nebraska a 2-0 lead when she led off the top of the third inning with a home run to center field.

Stokes did it again in the top of the fourth inning. Senior Dawna Tyson drew a leadoff walk, sophomore Taylor Otte reached on a well-placed infield single and classmate Gina Metzler put down a sacrifice bunt to move Tyson to third and Otte to second. Stokes then lined a 2-2 pitch into left center for a two-run double that put the Huskers in front 4-0. Stokes scored two batters later on an RBI single from senior Alicia Armstrong to make it 5-0.

Colorado State scored its first run in the bottom of the fourth with help from a Husker error.

Leading 5-1, Nebraska answered right back in the top of the fifth. Sophomore Kaylan Jablonski began the frame with a double and scored on an RBI single from junior Cassie McClure. With two outs and junior pinch runner Lotte Sjulin on third and Otte on first, Nebraska successfully executed a double steal, with Sjulin scoring to make it 7-1. Junior Rachel Arthur then grounded an RBI single through the right side to push the lead to 8-1.

Nebraska's lead grew to 9-1 when Jablonski lined a 3-1 pitch off the scoreboard in left center to lead off the top of the sixth inning.

In the top of the seventh, freshman Alyvia Simmons reached on a one-out error before sophomore Madi Unzicker doubled off the top of the fence in center. Arthur then walked before Stokes recorded an RBI ground out to give Nebraska a 10-1 lead.

Colorado State used a two-out, RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to pull within 10-2, but the Rams.

In addition to Stokes' three hits, Armstrong, Barrow, Jablonski and Otte each had two hits for the Huskers.

In the circle, Jablonski allowed only one earned run in 6.1 innings. McClure pitched the final 1.2 innings and allowed one run while surrendering three hits, one walk and one hit batter.

The Huskers wrap up their eight-game fall exhibition season on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. against Creighton at Bowlin Stadium.