The Nebraska softball team (5-6) was tied with No. 4 Oklahoma State after six innings, but two runs in the seventh powered the Cowgirls to a 3-1 victory at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M.
Trailing by two in the bottom of the seventh, NU put a runner on first after being hit by a pitch before Oklahoma State closed out the victory to move to 10-1 on the season.
In the circle, Courtney Wallace (4-3) recorded the loss. Wallace pitched 1.0 inning, giving up five hits and two runs. Kaylin Kinney started the game and re-entered in the seventh, pitching 6.0 innings, giving up nine hits while holding the Cowgirls to one run.
Lexi Kilfoyl earned the win and moved to 2-0 on the season after pitching the compl ete game for Oklahoma State. Kilfoyl recorded five strikeouts while holding NU to two hits and one run.
Offensively, Caitlynn Neal and Abbie Squier were the lone Huskers to record hits. Neal smashed a solo homer to center field in the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1. Squier recorded an infield single in the bottom of the sixth, but NU was unable to bring her home, leaving her stranded on first at the end of the inning.
Chyenne Factor and Morgan Wynne led the Cowgirls on offense. Both finished the day 3-for-4 while Factor recorded an RBI.
OSU was the first to score with one run in the top of the second. Singles from Cheyenne Factor, Morgyn Wynne and Audre Schneidmiller brought home a runner for the Cowgirls to take the 1-0 lead.
Oklahoma State looked to extend their lead in third with two singles, but a timely strikeout from Kinney and two ground outs got the Huskers out of the inning, holding the Cowgirls scoreless.
Katelyn Caneda marked the first NU baserunner of the day as she reached after being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the third inning. However, a hit into a double play forced the Big Red out of the inning.
Kinney and the Nebraska defense worked out of two runners on and one in scoring position in the fourth inning. With one out, a single from Wynee put the first runner on. A fielder’s choice took Wynne out at second. Megan Bloodworth singled to left center, putting a runner in scoring position, but a pop up to third got NU out of the inning without giving up a run.
Neal evened the score at 1-1 with a solo homer to center field in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Neal smashed her second home run of the season to even the game. The Huskers looked to add another after Mya Felder reached on a walk, but NU was able to move Felder around, going into the fifth inning, tied 1-1.
The Cowgirls threatened with loaded bases in the top of the sixth. Courtney Wallace came in as relief to pitch. Two singles put runners at first and second. Two fielder’s choices took a chance away from OSU to score, but a single to third base from Rachel Becker loaded the bases. A fielder’s choice to Andrews at shortstop once again got the Big Red out of the inning while holding Oklahoma State scoreless.
NU looked to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth after a lead off single from Abbie Squier gave Nebraska its second hit of the day. The Huskers were not able to bring Squier home after recording three straight outs.
OSU took the lead in the seventh with two runs. Kiley Naomi started the inning with a single up the middle, advancing to second on the next pitch after a passed ball. Micaela Wark was hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and second. A wild pitch advanced runners to second and third. Katelynn Carwile drove in a run with a single up the middle. With runners on the corners and no outs, Kinney re-entered the game in the circle. Factor added a single to left center, driving in the second run of the inning. With two outs and runners at first and third, Kinney recorded a strikeout to get out of the inning. NU went into the final half inning down, 3-1.
Felder reached first to start the bottom of the seventh after being hit by a pitch, but a strikeout and a double play ended the game as the Cowgirls claimed the 3-1 win.
Sarah Harness pitched a no-hitter while Brooke Andrews and Katelyn Caneda each notched home runs as the Nebraska softball team (6-6) picked up the 5-0 shutout victory over New Mexico State Friday night in Las Cruces, N.M. The Aggies moved to 5-5 on the season.
Harness (2-2) fired the 40th no-hitter in school history and the first since 2016. She was just one out away from the fourth perfect game in program history, as the Aggies’ only base runner reached on a two-out error in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With Harness cruising, Brooke Andrews and Katelyn Caneda led on offense, both tallying two hits including a home run. Abbie Squier added an RBI single to help the Big Red.
Aydenne Brown (2-2) recorded the loss for New Mexico State, pitching 4.0 innings while giving up three hits and three runs. Emily Dix and Jordin King both saw time in the circle for the Aggies as well, each giving up a run.
After both teams failed to have a baserunner in the first two innings, Brooke Andrews had the first hit of the game with a leadoff home run to left field to give the Huskers a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Katelyn Caneda added a single, but NU was unable to score any more as Nebraska took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the inning.
The Huskers added three more in the top of the fifth. Ava Bredwell led off with a single followed by Brooke Andrews reaching on a walk. Abbie Squier moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Katelyn Caneda smashed her first career homer with a three-run shot to left center to put the Big Red ahead, 4-0.
NU added another run in the sixth inning. With one out, Courtney Wallace singled to right field. After Wallace was caught stealing, Bredwell was walked followed by a single from Brooke Andrews. Abbie Squier singled up the middle, scoring Bredwell and extending the NU lead to 5-0.
As Harness looked to close out on a perfect game in the bottom of the seventh, a fielding error gave the Aggies their first baserunner of the night. However, Harness responded with her 10th strikeout of the night, securing the no-hitter victory over New Mexico State.
The Huskers return to action Saturday, Feb. 25 to face CSU Bakersfield at 5:30 p.m. (CT). It will be followed by a matchup with New Mexico at 7:30 p.m. (CT).
