Huskers winless at Unconquered Invitational

The No. 20 Husker softball team participated in the Unconquered Invitational this past weekend (Feb 13 – 15) in Tallahassee, Florida. After posting a 4-1 opening the previous weekend (Feb. 6 -8) at the Encanto Hotel Invitational in New Mexico, Nebraska left Florida with five disappointing losses.

An offense that scored 55 runs in their opening weekend struggled horribly at the plate, scoring only 8 runs in 5 games. Husker bats that had been so lively in New Mexico were nearly silenced in Florida. To be fair, the level of competition was much higher in Florida, but it was clear that NU batters were puzzled by opposition pitching.

Kylee Muir

Nebraska faced off against Georgia Tech for a Friday afternoon game. The Yellow Jackets run-ruled the Huskers in five innings, 11-2. NU Sophomore pitcher Cassie McClure was the starter but exited after only 2 innings, allowing 6 hits and five earned runs. The Huskers had five hits, but the RBI double from junior Alicia Armstrong gave Nebraska their only score in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Georgia Tech just simply dominated the Huskers Friday afternoon and it continued when the two met on Saturday morning. Huskers were run-ruled again, losing 10-2 in five innings. NU junior pitcher Emily Lockman started for the Huskers, allowing 8 runs, and 10 hits in 2.2 innings. Nebraska would not score until the bottom of the fourth when Nebraska outfielder Kiki Stokes hit a two-run home run.

Kiki stokes

Nebraska also played host Florida State two games, Friday night and Sunday morning. The Huskers played closer games with the No. 6 Seminoles, losing 4-1 and 3-2. In the Friday night game, Emily Lockman threw a complete game allowing two earned runs early. The other two runs she allowed came unearned in the bottom half of the sixth inning. The Huskers got on the board with a home run from senior outfielder Kylee Muir in the top of the seventh.

Nebraska met Florida State again in their final game on Sunday. Freshman Kaylan Jablonski got the start for the Huskers, allowing three runs in the first inning on a three-run home run. She remained in the game to retire the last 10 batters she faced. Once again, Husker Kiki Stokes blasted a home run. Her homer was one of two runs NU scored off Florida State pitching. The other came on a wild pitch in the sixth. Nebraska fell 3-2 and it was the closest game they played during the weekend.

Nebraska played only one game against Western Kentucky on Saturday morning, falling 5-1. Freshman right-hander Kaylan Jablonski (0-1) suffered the first loss of her career, allowing two runs on two hits in 2.0 innings. Junior right-hander Emily Lockman pitched the final 5.0 innings in relief and allowed only one earned run. Once again the Husker bats struggled. The Huskers did not score a run until the top of the sixth. Senior Kylee Muir drove in the only run.

The Huskers have a lot of work to do. Pitching will have to become more consistent as the Huskers face stronger teams through the season. Nebraska has power at the plate but if the offense stalls like this again, this team will have to learn how to play “small ball” to get runs across the plate.

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Nebraska travels west for their next tournament, the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, this weekend in Cathedral City, Calif. The Huskers will face three top-20 teams in LSU, UCLA and Tennessee. San Diego State and Oregon State will also provide additional challenges for the Huskers. Stay tuned for further updates and as always, GO BIG RED!!