The Nebraska softball team (19-8) picked up the run-rule victory over Kansas City (5-20) on Sunday afternoon in Lawrence, Kan. The Huskers outscored the Roos, 12-2, in five innings.
Katelyn Caneda led the Big Red offense, finishing 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Mya Felder added one hit, a three-run home run in the fifth, and four RBI.
Ally Vonfeldt and Sydney Nichols led the offense for Kansas City. Both added two hits for the Roos.
Three pitchers saw action in the circle for Nebraska. Sarah Harness (7-3) earned the win for the Huskers after entering in the fourth inning and allowing only one hit. Courtney Wallace started the game, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing only two hits and one run. Kendall Mangel also saw time in the circle, pitching 1.0 inning.
Audrey Danielson (1-3) recorded the loss for the Roos. Danielson pitched 1.0 inning, giving up four hits and five runs.
The Huskers got out to an early 3-0 lead in the first. Billie Andrews led off with a walk, advancing to second on a wild pitch. A ground out from Neal moved Andrews to third. Felder grounded out, scoring Andrews. Brooke Andrews added a single while Ava Bredwell was walked to put runners on first and second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Caneda doubled, scoring Andrews and Bredwell.
NU added five more runs in the second inning. Abbie Squier led off with a triple. Sydney Gray followed with a single, scoring Squier. Neal reached on a fielder’s choice as Billie Andrews, who was walked, was out at second. A double steal put Neal at second and scored Gray. With two outs, Brooke Andrews hit a single up the middle, scoring Gray. Bredwell was walked to put runners at first and second. Caneda added her second hit of the day with a single, scoring Andrews. Talia Tokheim followed, hitting a double and scoring Bredwell. Nebraska went ahead, 8-0.
The Roos got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second. Nichols led off with a single, advancing to second on a ground out. Nichols advanced to third on a passed ball. Kiki McCrea singled, scoring Nichols, and cutting into the NU lead as the Huskers went to the third inning ahead, 8-1.
The Big Red added one in third. Gray led off with a walk and stole second to move into scoring position. With one out, Neal drove in Gray with a single through the right side, extending the Husker lead to 9-1.
Kansas City responded with one run in the bottom of the third inning. Mangel entered to pitch for the Huskers. With two outs and a run on first, a double put runners in scoring position. Sydney Nichols hit a single, scoring one. NU was able to strand three runners, holding the 9-2 lead.
Nebraska added three more runs in the fifth. Gray led off with a walk but recorded the first out at second after a fielder’s choice from Billie Andrews. Neal reached on a fielder’s choice and Andrews was safe at second after a Kansas City fielding error. Felder followed with a three-run home run, giving the Huskers a 12-2 lead.
The Roos looked to rally, but three straight outs secured the run-rule victory in five innings.
The Nebraska softball team (19-9) fell to Kansas Sunday afternoon in Lawrence, Kan., in the final game of the weekend. Despite taking an early lead, the Huskers were not able to rally late, falling to the Jayhawks, 6-4.
Abbie Squier led the Nebraska offense, finishing 2-for-3 on the day with a home run. Katelyn Caneda added two hits including an RBI-triple while Mya Felder smashed a two-run home run in the first inning.
The Jayhawks (16-11) were led by Ashlyn Anderson who went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Shayna Espy and Presley Limbaugh each added two hits.
In the circle, Courtney Wallace (12-5) recorded the loss for the Huskers. Wallace pitched 6.0 innings giving up five hits and five runs (four earned) while striking out three batters.
Kasey Hamilton moved to 6-4 on the season after earning the win in the circle for Kansas. Hamilton pitched 6.0 innings, giving up six hits and four runs (two earned). Lizzy Ludwig earned the save after pitching the final inning for the Jayhawks.
The Huskers got out to an early 2-0 lead in the first. Billie Andrews led off, reaching on a KU error. With one out, Mya Felder smashed a two-run homer to give the Big Red the 2-0 lead.
The Jayhawks responded, scoring one in the bottom of the first. A double, single and walk loaded the bases. Wallace recorded the first out of the inning with a strikeout. A single from Ashlyn Anderson drove in the run, but NU was able to hold the lead, going into the second inning ahead, 2-1.
Abbie Squier hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth to extend the Husker lead to 3-1.
Kansas scored four in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. With one out, a single, fielding error and a hit batter loaded the bases. Anderson singled up the middle, scoring two. Aynslee Linduff followed with a single through the right side, scoring two more runs. The Jayhawks took the 5-3 lead.
NU cut into the KU lead with one in the sixth. With two outs, Ava Bredwell reached on a fielding error by Kansas. Katelyn Caneda followed with a triple, scoring Bredwell. The Huskers went to the bottom of the sixth, down 5-4.
Harness entered in the circle in the bottom of the sixth inning. A single and a walk put a runner in scoring position. Olivia Bruno followed with a single to right field, scoring one, extending the Jayhawk lead to 6-4.
Nebraska looked to rally in the seventh. Squier led off with a single but was out at second after Gray reached on a fielder’s choice. A single from Billie Andrews put a runner in scoring position while a wild pitch advanced runners to second and third. NU was unable to capitalize and fell to KU, 6-4.
The Huskers return to action on Wednesday, March 22, for a midweek matchup with Iowa State for the home opener at Bowlin Stadium. The game is set for 4 p.m.
