Huskers Sweep South Dakota

Lincoln, Neb. --- The Nebraska softball team swept South Dakota 11-3 and 1-0 on Sunday at Bowlin Stadium to kick off its fall season.

In the first, game the Husker offense was on fire scoring 11 runs off 13 hits. Tristen Edwards went 4-for-4, which included two doubles and a triple. She brought in three runs and scored two herself. Madi Unzicker also had a multi-hit game, getting two hits. She also scored one run and finished with one RBI. Seven additional Huskers got a hit in the first game, including Lexey Kneib and Kaylan Jablonski who each hit home runs. Olivia Ferrell got the win and Regan Mergele recorded a save. Neither pitcher gave up an earned run.

In the second game neither team allowed a run and the game was forced into extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth inning, with runners on the corners, Edwards delivered the game winning hit to give the Huskers the 1-0 victory. Gina Metzler got two of Nebraska’s six hits, while pitcher Kaylan Jablonski allowed only five hits through eight innings.

Nebraska continues the fall season on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 as it hosts Colorado State and UNO in the Big Red Fall Classic. The Huskers play a double header against Colorado State on Saturday beginning at 12:30. UNO and Colorado State will play Sunday at 10 a.m. NU will then face Colorado State at 12:30, before taking on UNO at 3 p.m. Admission is free into all fall games at Bowlin Stadium.

Game 1
South Dakota took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first after taking full advantage of a Husker fielding error. The error extended the inning and with two runners on base, Jessica Rodgers hit a three-run homer, which was the Coyotes’ only hit of the inning.

Nebraska answered back scoring four runs of its own in the bottom of the first. South Dakota’s Dustie Durham walked two of the first three batters. With runners on first and second, Edwards drove a double down the left field line to score Rylie Unzicker and Alyvia Simmons. With Edwards on second, the Huskers loaded the bases after Jablonski reached on a fielding error and Barrow was walked. Madi Unzicker singled down the left field line to score Edwards. Bri Cassidy was walked, bringing in Jablonski.  

In the bottom of the second, Nebraska extended its lead by one. Boruff doubled and Simmons moved her to third, but was out at first. Edwards doubled to score Boruff.  

In the third inning, Barrow and Madi Unzicker each singled. With Metzler running for Barrow on second and Madi Unzicker on first, Bri Cassidy singled to center field to score one run and advance Unzicker to third. Yocom pinch ran for Cassidy. With runners on the corners, Kneib hit a three-run homer putting the Huskers up 9-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Huskers extended their lead to 11-3. Edwards tripled to center field and scored on a passed ball. Right after, Jablonski smacked a solo homer to center field.

The Husker pitchers didn’t allow a single earned run. Olivia Ferrell gave up two hits in four innings pitched and Regan Mergele gave up only three hits.

Game 2
In a 1-0 victory for the Huskers, pitching was the storyline in game two. Both teams went seven innings without scoring a run and the game was pushed to extra innings. South Dakota was unable to score in the top of the eighth. In the bottom of the inning, the Husker offense found its groove. Lead-off hitter Rindy Bryant singled to center field to get things started. Taylor Otte bunted her over to second base and Gina Metzler singled to center field to get Bryant on third base. With runners on first and third, Edwards came up clutch with a walk-off hit to left field to bring the winning run across the plate.

South Dakota split time between two pitchers, while Jablonski carried all the weight for the Huskers. Jablonski went eight innings giving up just five hits.