Nebraska’s Bella Bacon (3) hits the ball during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Bowlin Stadium on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Nebraska’s Bella Bacon (3) hits the ball during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Bowlin Stadium on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
After a resounding victory over Minnesota yesterday, Nebraska softball was looking to advance to the Big Ten championship with a win over Indiana on Friday. Early on it seemed like the Huskers were going to do just that, however, the bats were not in their favor today.
After taking an early lead, Nebraska was in the driver’s seat. The Huskers looked good but their offense went stagnant midway through the game which allowed the Hoosiers a chance to advance to the Big Ten Championship with a 9-5 victory.
After senior pitcher Sarah Harness shut down Indiana in the top of the first, senior infielder Billie Andrews opened up the bottom of the frame with a leadoff home run. On Thursday against Minnesota, Andrews launched two home runs and she kept that momentum going Friday.
In the next inning, Harness sat down Indiana again, only allowing a single base runner. In the bottom of the frame, junior catcher Ava Bredwell replicated Andrews and hit the second leadoff home run for Nebraska to extend its lead to 2-0.
After the bomb, the Hoosiers swapped out junior pitcher Breanna Copeland in favor of sophomore Sophie Kleiman. Despite the pitching change, Indiana couldn’t stop the Husker offense.
A pair of walks and a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position for Nebraska. Andrews singled allowing senior outfielder Caitlynn Neal to score and advanced sophomore outfielder Katelyn Caneda to third. However, the inning ended after Andrews was caught stealing.
Harness continued her strong outing in the third, forcing the first two batters to pop out and sitting down the Hoosiers in order. The Huskers’ offense slowed down in the bottom of the third going down 1-2-3, giving Indiana a chance to answer in the next inning.
In the top of the fourth, the Hoosiers got on the board with a solo home run from junior infielder Sarah Stone. In the bottom of the frame, Nebraska couldn’t find a way to grow its 3-1 lead, going down in order again, allowing Indiana to stay in this game.
The Hoosiers closed the gap more in the fifth inning. Freshman utility Alex Cooper was hit by a pitch and made it to second base by way of a sac bunt. Cooper made it home after Copeland, who started the game on the mound, hit her home with a single.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Huskers’ offense found a spark. Sophomore infielder Bella Bacon was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and a single from Andrews. A flyout advanced junior catcher Mckinley Malecha, who was running for Bacon, to third base and a walk from senior infielder Sydney Gray loaded the bases.
Although it looked like Nebraska was going to get another run on the board, its spark fizzled out as freshman utility Emmerson Cope grounded out.
Harness got back on track in the top of the sixth inning, sitting down Indiana in order. The Huskers missed out on another chance to grow their lead in the bottom of the frame, only getting a single baserunner keeping the score at 3-2.
The Hoosiers capitalized on Nebraska’s cold offense in the top of the seventh. Cooper stepped up to the plate and launched a leadoff home run to tie the game.
Copeland reached on a fielder’s choice and made it into scoring position behind a passed ball as Indiana threatened to take its first lead of the game. Harness was able to get herself out of the jam, however, making it a whole new ballgame.
With a chance to walk off the game in the bottom of the seventh, the Huskers were held without a run for the fifth straight inning.
In extras, it did not take long for the Hoosiers to put Nebraska away. Indiana opened up extras by getting two runners in scoring position with one out. A single from senior outfielder Aaliyah Andrews brought both home and gave the Hoosiers their first lead of the game.
It did not stop there for Indiana as two more singles brought home Andrews and put two more runners on base. The salt in the wound for the Huskers was when Copeland launched a three-run home run to extend their lead to 9-3. The home run from Copeland came on Harness’ 112th pitch of the game.
Harness was able to make it out of the inning, but the damage was done. Nebraska did score two runs in the bottom of the inning behind a home run from senior catcher Peyton Cody, however, the deficit was too much for them to overcome
This loss likely ends the Huskers’ season as they are not projected to make a regional. Coming into the season, Nebraska had high aspirations after the addition of junior pitcher Jordy Bahl, however after her injury along with several others, the Huskers had to look for others to fill their roles.
It is unknown how Nebraska will look to rebuild its roster heading into next season as they will once again look to make it to the NCAA Tournament.
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