Third Scrimmage Ends in 7-6 Win for Team Raley

Opportunistic offense and solid pitching highlighted the third scrimmage of the fall for the Nebraska softball team as Team Anni Raley defeated Team MJ Green, 7-6, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Bowlin Stadium.

Six of the 14 hits in the game came with two outs and 12 of the 13 runs scored with two outs. Team Raley produce five of its six hits with two outs and all seven of its runs scored with two outs, while Team Green scored five of its six runs with two outs. In the circle, only one of the 13 runs allowed in the game was earned.

Caitlynn Neal started and earned the win for Team Raley, allowing one hit in two scoreless innings. Karlee Severs allowed one run on two hits over the third and fourth innings, while Olivia Ferrell picked up the save, going three innings and striking out five while not allowing an earned run.

Cam Ybarra paced the Team Raley offense with a 2-for-4 day that included a pair of doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Neal walked twice and scored a pair of runs out of the leadoff spot, while Billie Andrews and Ferrell also drove in runs.

Courtney Wallace took the loss for Team Green, but she scattered six hits in a complete-game effort and did not allow an earned run. Offensively, Ally Riley went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, four RBIs and two runs scored, giving her a home run - including two grand slams - in all three fall scrimmages. Rylie Unzicker and Green drove in a run apiece as Team Green out-hit Team Raley, 8-6.

Team Raley jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. A one-out error put a runner on second base before Ferrell drove in Ybarra with the game's first run on a two-out, RBI single down the left field line.

Team Raley benefitted from two more errors in the top of the third. A leadoff error put a base runner on second before a dropped fly ball with two outs allowed Neal to score and increase the lead to 2-0.

Team Green mounted its first scoring threat in the bottom of the third. Sarah Yocom got things started with a one-out single before Tristen Edwards was hit by a pitch. Unzicker then lined the first pitch she saw to right for an RBI single. Edwards went to third on the single and Unzicker promptly stole second base to put a pair of runners in scoring position with only one out. But Seevers preserved the 2-1 lead by recording a strike out and a fly out to right.

Team Raley took advantage of two more errors to plate four runs and take a 6-1 lead with a two-run fourth inning. A leadoff walk was followed by back-to-back strikeouts. An infield single and a throwing error put runners at second and third before another throwing error allowed Sam Owen and Camyl Armendariz to score. The two-out rally continued when Ybarra produced an RBI double to left to score Neal and Andrews followed with an RBI single to bring Ybarra home.

Team Green turned the tables in the bottom of the fifth, using an error to plate four runs. A hit batter and an error put runners on first and second with no outs before Ferrell retired the next two batters. A two-out walk loaded the bases and Riley blasted a grand slam over the left field fence to cut the lead to 6-5.

Team Raley mounted another two-out rally in the top of the sixth. A pair of errors left Raley on second base with two outs, and she scored on an RBI double from Ybarra to make it a 7-5 game.

In the bottom of the sixth, Team Green loaded the bases on a pair of singles and an error, but Ferrell escaped the jam with an infield pop up and back-to-back strikeouts.

Team Green loaded the bases again with one out in the bottom of the seventh on an error and singles from Riley and Wallace. An RBI fielder's choice cut the lead to 7-6 before Ferrell secured the win with a bases-loaded strikeout to end the game.

Nebraska will conclude its fall season next weekend by scrimmaging on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.