Wildcats Edge Huskers in Series Opener

The Nebraska softball team let too many opportunities slip away in a 6-5 loss to Northwestern Friday night at Bowlin Stadium.

Nebraska out-hit Northwestern, 8-6, and the Huskers drew two more walks than the Wildcats. But Nebraska committed the game's only two errors - leading to three unearned runs - and the Huskers were just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Freshmen Samantha Bland and Emmerson Cope each homered in the game. Katelyn Caneda went 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs while Billie Andrews was 2-for-4.

Kaylin Kinney (16-13) took the loss, allowing two unearned runs in 1.0 inning. Sarah Harness started and gave up four runs (three earned) over 6.0 innings.

Nebraska fell to 27-20 with the loss and dropped to 10-7 in Big Ten play. Northwestern improved to 30-9 on the year and remained in first place in the conference standings with a 16-2 record. Renae Cunningham (5-2) earned the win in relief, allowing one run in 1.1 innings.

Nebraska jumped out to a 2-0 lead two pitches into the bottom of the first inning. Billie Andrews led off with a bunt single before Bland blasted a two-run homer to center.

Northwestern tied the game with a two-run third inning. A leadoff home run put the Wildcats on the board before a two-out error allowed the tying run to score.

In the fifth, Northwestern had runners at first and third with one out before a sacrifice fly gave the Wildcats a 3-2 lead. A two-out RBI single then made it a 4-2 game.

In the bottom of the frame, Nebraska had runners on first and second with one out following consecutive one-out singles from Caneda and Billie Andrews. But the next two Huskers were retied as Northwestern kept its two-run lead.

The Huskers did convert a scoring chance in the bottom of the sixth. Caitlynn Neal singled with one out before Bella Bacon and Ava Bredwell drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with one out. Brooke Andrews then appeared to draw a bases-loaded walk but Northwestern challenged that Bredwell had left early from first base and the Wildcats won the challenge, taking a run of the board. Brooke Andrews still went on to draw a walk and Caneda grounded a game-tying two-run single to left.

In the top of the seventh, a bloop single, an error and a sacrifice bunt gave Northwestern runners at second and third with one out. The Wildcats then took a 5-4 lead with their second sacrifice fly of the game and a wild pitch brought home another run.

The second run proved huge after Cope hit a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, but that was as close as Nebraska would get.

In a change to the original schedule, Nebraska and Northwestern will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.

Post-Game Notes

• Nebraska played its 17th one run-game of the season, its most since the 2013 season.
• Ten of Nebraska's 17 conference games have been decided by one run.
• The Huskers hit two home runs off Big Ten ERA leader Ashley Miller, who entered the game having allowed just six homers in 135.2 innings this season.