The Nebraska softball team (12-6) picked up its seventh consecutive win after recording a 9-1 run-rule victory over Weber State (5-13) on Saturday afternoon at the Hillenbrand Invitational in Tucson, Ariz.
Sarah Harness moved to 5-2 on the season, earning the win after pitching the complete game. The junior held Weber State to just three hits and one run. Mandy Johnson (5-6) recorded the loss for Weber State after giving up three hits and three runs in the first inning. Brooke Hatfield and Jayci Finch also saw time in the circle for the Wildcats.
Freshman Katelyn Caneda led the Husker offense, going 2-for-3 on the day with three RBIs and a run. Sydney Gray and Billie Andrews added two hits of their own while Caitlynn Neal recorded her third homer of the season with a two-run shot in the first inning. For the Wildcats, Lauren Hoe led with a solo homer to give Weber State its only run of the day.
The Huskers dominated the first inning, recording five hits and seven runs to start the game. Billie Andrews led off with a double, her fifth of the season. Neal smashed a two-run homer to center field, giving NU an early 2-0 lead. Gray followed it with the third consecutive hit of the day with a single up the middle, forcing a Weber State pitching change. Hatfield entered in the circle, recording the first out of the inning as Felder hit a pop up. Hatfield went on to hit Bredwell with a pitch and walk Brooke Andrews to load the bases. Abbie Squier recorded a walk with the bases loaded, bringing in Gray for another run.
The Wildcats made another pitching change as Finch entered with one out. Caneda singled to right field, scoring two more. Billie Andrews followed with her second hit of the inning with an infield single, scoring Squier. A wild pitch scored Caneda during the 11th at bat of the inning, but a ground out got Weber State out of the inning. The Huskers took an early 7-0 lead to start the game.
NU added another run in the top of the second. Gray led off with a double followed by a single from Felder. Bredwell added the third consecutive hit of the inning, scoring Gray. The Huskers were unable to add anymore, but went into the bottom of the second, ahead 8-0.
Weber State got on the board after Lauren Hoe hit a solo homer in the second, making it an 8-1 game. NU worked out of the inning, recording three straight outs after the lead off hit.
The Wildcats looked to add more after a one out walk and single put a runner in scoring position, but a fly out in foul territory and a fielder’s choice got NU out of the inning without any damage.
After a quiet fourth inning, the Big Red added another run in the fifth. Bredwell led off, getting hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. The sophomore advanced to scoring position after stealing second. With two outs, Caneda doubled to center, scoring Bredwell, extending the lead to 9-1.
The Wildcats looked to score in the fifth after putting runners on first and third, but Harness worked out of it with a strikeout and a pop up, securing the 9-1 run-rule victory.
The Huskers return to action at approximately 4 p.m. (CT) to face No. 16 Arizona. Fans can listen to the action live on the Huskers Radio Network and Huskers.com with the call from Nate Rohr and Mattie Fowler Burkhardt. The game will also be streamed live on FloSoftball (subscription required).
NEB SB: Huskers Run Past Wildcats
