The Nebraska softball team scored two batters into the bottom of the first inning Friday night but was shut out the rest of the way in a 7-1 loss to Wichita State in the Huskers' home opener at Bowlin Stadium.
With the loss, Nebraska fell to 8-7 on the season while Wichita State improved to 8-3 against a schedule that has featured five games against ranked opponents.
Caitlin Olensky (2-1) pitched a total of 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. She started and allowed two runs on two hits in her first 3.1 innings before re-entering the game in the fifth inning and allowing one run in two-thirds of an inning. Kaylin Kinney gave up four runs on five hits in 1.0 inning of relief. Emmerson Cope pitched the final 2.0 innings and did not allow a run while striking out two.
Offensively, Peyton Cody was 1-for-2 with an RBI double while Billie Andrews was 1-for-2 with a double, and she also walked and was hit by a pitch. Nebraska had six hits in the game.
Chloe Barber (4-0), the nation's strikeout leader, earned the win by allowing one run in 7.0 innings with seven strikeouts.
Nebraska jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Billie Andrews was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, and she promptly stole second base. Cody then brought Andrews home with an RBI double to left center.
Wichita State tied the game in the top of the fourth on a triple followed by an RBI single. Kinney came on in relief and allowed back-to-back singles as the Shockers loaded the bases with one out. Wichita State then took a 2-1 lead on an RBI fielder's choice.
Leading 2-1, the Shockers put the game away by scoring five times in the top of the fifth. The scoring started on a two-run home run from Bailey Urban. Following back-to-back singles Olensky re-entered the game and gave up an RBI double to make it 6-1. A hit batter and an infield single then loaded the bases before an RBI single pushed the Shocker lead to 7-1.
Nebraska returns to action tomorrow when the Huskers host Wichita State and No. 14 Missouri.
Post-Game Notes
- Tonight’s announced attendance was 2,319 (tickets sold) the largest crowd in Bowlin Stadium history. The previous record was 2,302 for a game against Michigan on April 9, 2016. The actual attendance on Friday was 1,213.
- Three Husker hitters played in their first regular-season game at Bowlin Stadium - Peyton Cody, Samantha Bland and Bella Bacon - and each player had a hit.
- Billie Andrews was hit by a pitch in the first inning, extending her streak to 10 consecutive games reaching base safely. She reached base three times in four plate appearances.
- Andrews doubled in the fifth to extend her hitting streak to 10 games. Andrews also has at least one extra-base hit in five straight games.
- Bella Bacon singled in the first inning to extend her streak to 10 consecutive games reaching base safely.
- Emmerson Cope pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and tied her career high with two strikeouts.