Nebraska’s Bella Bacon (3) catches an out during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Bowlin Stadium on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Nebraska’s Bella Bacon (3) catches an out during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Bowlin Stadium on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
After a back and forth game on Saturday afternoon, Nebraska softball looked to bounce back after a 13-12 loss and try to win the rubber match against the Buckeyes on Sunday.
Sophomore pitcher Kylee Magee got the start in the circle for the Huskers. Magee came into the outing with a 2-1 record in nine appearances, and a 4.38 ERA for Nebraska. Freshman pitcher Layna Gerhard started for Ohio State. Gerhard came into the contest with a 3-0 record, and a 4.20 ERA in 30 innings pitched on the year.
Gerhard opened the game with a 1-2-3 inning, and the Buckeyes offense wouldn’t skip a beat from yesterday’s game after senior first baseman Reagen Milliken opened the scoring with a two RBI single to put the Buckeyes up 2-0 in the first. Ohio State made Magee work in the first, making her throw 41 pitches.
Nebraska got within a run in the second after a sacrifice fly from senior catcher Ava Bredwell.
Magee failed to get out of the second inning, and left with two runners on base and nobody out. She only lasted one inning, giving up four earned runs, two walks, and throwing 55 pitches.
Sophomore pitcher Emmerson Cope replaced Magee in the circle. Cope attempted to limit the damage, giving up two runs that were charged to Magee. The Huskers trailed 4-1 heading to the third.
Nebraska took no time getting a run back after junior utility Olivia DiNardo launched a solo shot to make it a 4-2 ballgame. Later in the inning Cope would score junior first baseman Jordy Bahl with a sacrifice fly to make it a 4-3 game.
However, the Huskers pitching continued to struggle after Cope threw just one and a third innings in relief, giving up four hits and four earned runs. Sophomore pitcher Caitlin Olensky would replace Cope in the bottom of the third, but not before the Buckeyes tacked on five runs including two home runs from sophomore right fielder Taylor Cruse and sophomore third baseman Sami Bewick to make it a 9-3 Buckeye lead.
Junior pitcher Hannah Camenzind came in to pitch in the fourth and delivered the first scoreless inning of the game for the Huskers, keeping it a 9-3 game.
Nebraska continued to try and make it a game after holding the Buckeyes scoreless in the fifth, and scoring two runs in the sixth after a Bredwell home run made it 9-5. However, the Buckeyes added three in the inning to increase their lead to 12-5.
Ohio State defeated Nebraska 12-6, clinching a win in the opening series in Big Ten play. Nebraska pitching combined for seven walks, allowing fourteen hits and eleven earned runs. Bredwell and junior right fielder Kacie Hoffman led the game for the Huskers with two hits a piece.
Nebraska will be back in action next weekend, continuing Big Ten play against Minnesota.
sports@dailynebraskan.com
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