Homers Power Huskers Past Western Illinois

Nebraska  3 2 western ill.
Box Score

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Western Illinois	0	0	1	0	1	0	0		2	8	0
Nebraska	2	0	1	0	0	0	X		3	3	1

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Lockman (1-0)	5.0	7	2	1	0	2
L - Hart (0-1)	6.0	3	3	3	5	2
S - McClure (1)	2.0	1	0	0	0	3

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
MJ Knighten	3	1	1	2	0	1
Kiki Stokes	1	2	1	1	2	1

Game Notes

Nebraska has started a season 2-0 for the second time in three years...MJ Knighten and Kiki Stokes both homered, marking the third time both players homered in the same game...Taylor Otte had a one-out single in the bottom of the second inning for her first career hit...Cassie McClure recorded her first save of the season and her sixth as a Husker...McClure moved into a tie for 10th place on Nebraska's all-time saves list.

Cedar Falls, Iowa - A pair of home runs powered the Nebraska softball team to a 3-2 victory over Western Illinois in the first of two games Saturday for the Huskers at the UNI-Dome Classic in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

After totaling 15 hits but struggling to score until late in a season-opening victory over Northern Iowa on Friday, the Huskers had only three hits on Saturday but managed three runs as two of the hits were home runs. Junior MJ Knighten hit a two-run homer to open the scoring in the bottom of the first and senior Kiki Stokes led off the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run that proved to be the difference in the game.

Nebraska was out-hit 8-3, but the Husker pitching staff was successful in working out of jams all morning. Senior right-hander Emily Lockman (1-0) earned the win in her season debut, allowing two runs (one earned) over 5.0 innings. Lockman scattered seven hits but limited the Leathernecks to 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Junior right-hander Cassie McClure pitched the final two innings to earn her first save of the season.

The Huskers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Stokes drew a leadoff walk and scored two batters later on a deep two-run home run from Knighten.

Western Illinois came back with one run in the top of the third. A leadoff error was followed by back-to-back singles that trimmed the lead to 2-1. The Leathernecks still had runners at first and second with no outs, but Lockman got a double play and a ground out on the next two pitches to quickly end the threat.

The Huskers answered in the bottom of the frame when Stokes lined the first pitch of the inning just over the fence in right center for a solo home run. 

WIU got another run back in the top of the fifth following a pair of doubles. Lockman stranded the runner at second base with a ground out and a fly out, before McClure allowed only one hit over the final two frames to close out the victory.

Nebraska takes on defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Drake in the Huskers' second game of the day.

 

Box Score

 

2016 Nebraska Softball Western Illinois at Nebraska Feb 13, 2016 at Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI-Dome)

Western Illinois 2 (0-2)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Karissa Kouchis rf....... 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 Tierney Bottino cf....... 4 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 Aly Compton dp........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Hailey Duwa ph.......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Holly Hoelting 1b........ 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 3 Kelsey Marlow 2b......... 3 0 1 0 0 1 3 3 0 Payton Abbott ss......... 3 0 1 0 0 1 3 1 0 Nina Maggio 3b........... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Taylor Messer c.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 Rachel Beatty lf......... 3 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Kacyee Hart p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Totals................... 29 2 8 2 0 5 18 5 6

Nebraska 3 (2-0)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Stokes, Kiki cf.......... 1 2 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 Barrow, Laura 2b......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Knighten, MJ 3b.......... 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 5 0 Jablonski, Kaylan dp..... 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Urness, Austen rf........ 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 Simmons, Alyvia rf...... 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Tyson, Dawna 1b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 Sjulin, Lotte pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Otte, Taylor lf.......... 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 Cassidy, Bri c........... 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 McClure, Cassie p....... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Arthur, Rachel ss........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 Lockman, Emily p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Unzicker, Madi c........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Totals................... 21 3 3 3 5 2 21 12 5

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Western Illinois.... 001 010 0 - 2 8 0 Nebraska............ 201 000 X - 3 3 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Knighten(1). DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Leathernecks 6; Huskers 5. 2B - K. Kouchis; T. Bottino; N. Maggio; R. Beatty. HR - Stokes(1); Knighten(2). SB - Stokes(1); Otte(1).

Western Illinois IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Kacyee Hart......... 6.0 3 3 3 5 2 21 26 94

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Lockman, Emily...... 5.0 7 2 1 0 2 22 22 72 McClure, Cassie..... 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 7 7 21

Win - Lockman (1-0). Loss - K. Hart (0-1). Save - McClure (1). WP - McClure(1). Pitches/strikes: K. Hart 94/50; Lockman 72/46; McClure 21/16. Umpires - Start: 7:58 am Time: 1:51 Attendance: Game: livegame