Nebraska softball team started off their 2015 with a splash! They competed in the Hotel Incanto Invitational in Las Cruces, NM Feb. 5-8. At the end of the 4-day tournament, Huskers won the crown with their 4 -1 record. Other tournament participants were Montana, Texas Tech, Colorado State, UTSA and host New Mexico State.
No. 18 Nebraska opened play on Friday, Feb. 6 against Colorado State. This marked the debut of sophomore transfer Cassie McClure. In her first career start pitching for the Huskers, she went five innings allowing only one run off two hits. She was also good at the plate. In the bottom of the 2nd, she blasted a long HOMERUN beyond the wall in left center. Heading into the bottom of the 5th, NU held onto a slim 2 -1 lead. The Husker offense put it all together and NU exploded for seven runs to earn a 9 -1 run-rule victory.
Game 2 Friday evening was not nearly as successful. Huskers took on host New Mexico State, losing in a high-scoring affair 16 – 11. Returning pitcher Emily Lockman started for Nebraska. NU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning, but NMSU would tie it up in the top of the 4th. Heading into the 6th inning trailing New Mexico 7-4 , Nebraska unleashed the bats to score 7 runs. However, NMSU answered with a nine runs of their own in the bottom of the 6thj to claim the victory.
Saturday, Feb.7 turned out to be a better day for the Huskers. NU pushed the “reset” button to produce another scoring explosion, defeating Montana 13-4 in six innings. 2 Huskers were big in this game. Junior Alicia Armstrong produced three hits, and scored a pair of runs. Junior Kiki Stokes blasted a GRAND SLAM HOMER in the top of the 3rd inning (also winning #B1G Player of the Week). Husker pitching improved as Freshman Kaylan Jablonski and sophomore Cassie McClure combined for no-hitter. Jablonski threw the first three innings allowing four runs (two earned)and McClure (2-0) completed the shutout in relief.
“@B1Gsoftball: .@HuskerSoftball's Kiki Stokes is the #B1G Player of the Week. She batted .650 and drove in 10 runs. pic.twitter.com/nJGWjnHTVZ”
— Nebraska Softball (@HuskerSoftball) February 9, 2015
In their 2nd Saturday match up, the Husker bats continued to be lively. NU ended the day with an 11-3 victory in six-innings over Texas Tech. Junior right-hander Emily Lockman (1-1) earned her first ‘W’ of the season pitching a complete game! The only hiccup in her day was giving up a 3-run homer in the top of the 4th inning. Offensively, Junior Kiki Stokes had a career day. Stokes went 4-for-4, walked, hit a double, scored three runs and had three RBIs. Seniors Kylee Muir and Steph Pasquale along with juniors Dawna Tyson and Alicia Armstrong kept the Texas Tech outfield hopping.
Coach Rhonda Revelle
Nebraska (3-1) faced off against University of Texas-San Antonio (3-1) for the tournament championship Sunday. Alicia Armstrong hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 3rd which helped the Huskers keep pace with UTSA. In the bottom of the 6th trailing by 2, the Husker bats exploded with 6 runs to secure an 11-7 victory over UTSA. Husker Junior right-hander Emily Lockman pitched the first 3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits. Sophomore right-hander Cassie McClure entered in relief allowing only 1 run on 3 hits in 4 innings of work. McClure went 3-0 in her first weekend as a Husker.
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Returning to Lincoln with a record of 4 -1, you can say the Huskers had a successful trip south to open the season. True the pitching staff of four, 3 of whom are new at Nebraska this year, have some work to do. With a roster of 19 this year, there is already stiff competition for playing time. Without question, it looks like the softball team is headed for an interesting, if not entertaining, 2015 season. Huskers travel to Tallahassee, Fl on Friday to begin tournament play in the Unconquered Invitational. As always, stay tuned for updates and GO BIG RED!!