Huskers Defeat Spartans, 12-6

Nebraska  12 6 Michigan state
Box Score

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Michigan St.	1	3	0	0	2	0	0		6	7	1
Nebraska	2	2	6	2	0	0	X		12	12	2

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - K. Jablonski (16-5)	5.0	4	2	2	3	6
L - J. Watson (2-3)	2.0	7	5	5	0	1
S - None	0.0	0	0	0	0	0

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	2B	HR
Alyvia Simmons	5	2	4	5	0	0
Lexey Kneib	3	2	2	1	0	0

Game Notes

Alyvia Simmons had four hits against the Spartans, which is tied for fourth in school history.  Alyvia Simmons' four hits are a game high for Nebraska this season, as are her five RBIs.  Alyvia Simmons set career highs in hits (four) and RBIs (five) against the Spartans.  Alyvia Simmons has had at least one hit in the last four games. Kaylan Jablonski improved to 16-5 in the circle against MSU and has earned Nebraska's last 11 straight wins.

Lincoln, Neb. -  The Nebraska softball team (23-9) defeated Michigan State (11-15) on Saturday by a score of 12-6, claiming the three-game series after winning game one last night. 

Kaylan Jablonski improved to 16-5 on the year, pitching 5.0 innings. She gave up two runs on four hits and also had six strikeouts. Regan Mergele got the start and pitched 2.0 innings. She gave up one earned run on three hits.

MSU's Jordan Watson dropped to 2-3 on the season. She pitched 2.0 innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. 

On offense, Alyvia Simmons went 4-for-5, with two runs and five RBIs. Lexey Kneib also had multiple hits, going 2-for-3. She also had one RBI and two runs. Tristen Edwards, Jablonski, Gina Metzler, Taylor Otte, Laura Barrow and Bri Cassidy also had one hit for the Huskers.

MSU took a 1-0 lead in the first with a solo homer to right field. In the bottom of the inning, the Huskers put runners on the corners with no outs after Simmons and Edwards hit back-to-back singles. With two outs, Edwards stole second to put both runners in scoring position. Barrow singled up the middle to score both runs and give Nebraska a 2-1 lead. 

The Spartans scored three in the second to take back the lead. An error and a single put two runners on. A sac hit moved them both over and a ground out scored one run.  A walk and an intentional walk loaded the bases and a single scored two more runs to give MSU a 4-2 lead. 

In the bottom of the second, Otte hit a leadoff double and Kneib singled to put runners on the corners. With one out, Simmons hit a ball over the fence, but passed the runner. She was out on the play, but both Otte and Kneib scored to tie the game at 4-4. 

In the bottom of the third, Nebraska sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs, with help from an error and five walks. The Huskers loaded the bases with a single and two walks. Otte reached first on a fielder's choice and the runner was out at home. With the bases loaded, Kneib and Riley drew back-to-back walks to score two more runs. Otte scored another run on a wild pitch. Simmons singled up the middle to score Kneib.  Edwards drew a walk to load the bases again for Nebraska. Jablonski reached on an error and two more runs scored, giving the Huskers a 10-4 lead.  

In the fourth, the Big Red loaded the bases with two singles and a fielder's choice. With two outs, Simmons hit a single to left field that scored two more runs, giving the Huskers a 12-4 lead.

The Spartans hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 12-6. 

Game three will be played tomorrow at noon. The game will be available on Huskers.com (radio) and BTNPlus/FloSoftball (subscription required).

Box Score 2018 Nebraska Softball Michigan State at Nebraska Mar 24, 2018 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Michigan State 6 (11-15)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Kaitlyn Eveland 3b....... 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 Ebonee Echols lf......... 3 2 2 1 1 1 3 0 0 Lea Foerster cf.......... 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Caitie Ladd ss........... 2 0 2 2 2 0 2 0 0 McKenzie Long rf......... 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 Summer Callahan pr...... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lexi White dp............ 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Joanna Bartz ph/dp...... 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Lindsey Besson c......... 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Kelcey Carrasco ph/c.... 2 1 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 Riley Paxson 1b.......... 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 0 2 Melanie Baccay 2b........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 2 Jordan Watson p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bridgette Rainey p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 McKenna Gregory p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 28 6 7 6 6 6 18 4 8

Nebraska 12 (23-9)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Alyvia Simmons rf........ 5 2 4 5 0 0 2 0 1 Tristen Edwards ss....... 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 2 Kaylan Jablonski dp/p.... 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Madi Unzicker 1b......... 4 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 2 Laura Barrow 2b.......... 2 1 1 2 2 0 1 3 0 Gina Metzler lf.......... 3 2 1 0 1 0 4 0 2 Taylor Otte cf........... 4 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 Lexey Kneib 3b........... 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 2 0 Bree Boruff pr.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bri Cassidy c............ 3 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 0 Ally Riley ph........... 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Regan Mergele p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 31 12 12 9 6 2 21 8 7

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Michigan State...... 130 020 0 - 6 7 1 Nebraska............ 226 200 X - 12 12 2 -----------------------------------------

E - C Ladd(8); Barrow(5); Kneib(3). DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Spartans 8; Huskers 7. 2B - Otte(4); Cassidy(1). HR - E Echols(2); K Carrasco(2). SH - M Baccay(5). SB - E Echols(3); Edwards(6).

Michigan State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Jordan Watson....... 2.0 7 5 5 0 1 12 12 31 Bridgette Rainey.... 0.2 0 4 3 4 0 2 6 29 McKenna Gregory..... 3.1 5 3 2 2 1 17 19 75

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Regan Mergele....... 2.0 3 4 1 3 0 10 14 60 Kaylan Jablonski.... 5.0 4 2 2 3 6 18 21 97

Win - Jablonski (16-5). Loss - J Watson (2-3). Save - None. WP - M Gregory(3). Pitches/strikes: J Watson 31/24; B Rainey 29/11; M Gregory 75/48; Mergele 60/33; Jablonski 97/62. Umpires - HP: Kelly J. Ternes 1B: Michael Parker 3B: Terry D. Holt Start: 2:38 pm Time: 2:32 Attendance: 542 Weather: cold and windy J Watson faced 1 batter in the 3rd. Game: NEB32