A pair of seven-run innings powered Wichita State to a 17-4 six-inning victory over the Nebraska softball team in the first of two games for the Huskers Saturday at Bowlin Stadium.
Wichita State scored in three of its six innings while Nebraska scored in four of its six innings. But the Huskers were held to single runs in each of their four run-scoring innings while Wichita State scored three runs in the first, seven in the second and seven more in the sixth.
Sarah Harness (1-1) took the loss, as she started and re-entered the game as a reliever. Over her two stints, Harness allowed 11 runs in 5.0 innings. Emmerson Cope allowed six runs (five earned) in 1.0 inning of relief.
Offensively, Brooke Andrews went 2-for-3 and hit one of Nebraska's four doubles. Billie Andrews went 1-for-3 with a double to extend her hitting streak to 11 games. Ava Bredwell also doubled and had an RBI, while Alina Felix drove in one run.
Alex Aguilar (3-1) earned the win for Wichita State (9-4). Aguilar tossed 5.0 innings and allowed four runs (three earned).
Wichita State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a single followed by three consecutive walks. An RBI single made it 2-0 and with the bases still loaded, the Huskers turned a double play but a run scored to stretch the Shocker lead to 3-0.
Billie Andrews led off the bottom of the first with a double. She scored two batters later on an RBI double from Bredwell that cut the lead to 3-1.
The Shockers came right back and scored seven in the top of the second inning. A pair of three-run homers made it 9-1 lead before a one-out RBI single pushed the lead to 10-1.
In the bottom of the second, an error and back-to-back singles from Sydney Gray and Brooke Andrews loaded the bases with no outs. Felix scored Gray with an RBI ground out before a walk to Billie Andrews loaded the bases again with one out. But Nebraska had to settle for just one run, as Wichita State led 10-2 after two innings.
The Huskers got another run back in the bottom of the third. Samantha Bland led off with a double, moved to third on a ground out from Bella Bacon and scored on a sacrifice fly from Katelyn Caneda.
Nebraska scored another run in the bottom of the fourth. Brooke Andrews, who robbed a home run with a catch in center field in the top of the inning, led off the bottom of the frame with a double. She moved up to third on a ground out from Felix and scored on a two-out wild pitch to make the score 10-4.
After being shut out for three consecutive innings, Wichita State scored four runs in the top of the sixth. A leadoff double and a pair of one-out walks loaded the bases before an RBI single and an RBI ground out gave the Shockers an 12-4 lead. A two-out, two-run double pushed the lead to 14-4. An RBI double and a two-run homer capped the inning.
Nebraska was then retired in order in the bottom of the sixth.
Nebraska (8-8) plays its second game of the day against No. 14 Missouri.
Post-Game Notes
- Nebraska walked a season-high eight batters.
- Billie Andrews had a double in the first inning to extend her hitting streak to 11 games. She has had an extra-base hit in six consecutive games.