The Nebraska softball team earned their first conference sweep with a 7-5 victory over the Michigan State Spartans at Bowlin Field on Sunday afternoon. It was the lowest score of the three game series.
Give 'em the Broom- #Huskers sweep the @B1Gsoftball Weekend! See you Monday on @BigTenNetwork vs Iowa at 4&6 pm #OSTW pic.twitter.com/LR9wpfhVEh
— Nebraska Softball (@HuskerSoftball) March 22, 2015
After pitching in relief Friday and Saturday, Senior Emily Lockman entered the circle as the starter for the Huskers. She held Michigan State scoreless to begin the game. In the bottom of the frame, Nebraska scored when MJ Knighten tripled down the right field line. She then proceeded to cross the plate on a wild pitch giving NU the lead 1-0.
Lockman held MSU scoreless in the second. The Big Red bats got busy in the bottom of the second. Aided by a walk, a hitter batter and two MSU errors, the Huskers scored two runs to go up 3-0.
In the third inning, Lockman gave up a run to MSU via a walk and two singles. NU would get the run right back in the bottom of the frame on two doubles by Cassie McClure and Kylee Muir. Nebraska maintained the lead at 4-1.
Kylee doubles #Huskers lead 4-1 #OSTW
— Nebraska Softball (@HuskerSoftball) March 22, 2015
After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, Michigan State put together some offense against Lockman at the top of the fifth inning. With the help of a Nebraska fielding error, a stolen base and three singles, Michigan State would plate three runs to tie the game 4-4. The Huskers did not score to end the fifth.
Spartans tie the game up without having the ball leave the infield until a fly out to end T5, it's now 4-4 after three MSU runs.
— huskers W (@huskers_w) March 22, 2015
The Huskers held MSU scoreless in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the frame, the Nebraska offense ramped up with singles by Knighten and Barrow. Alicia Armstrong stepped to the plate and smacked a three-run homer over the left field wall. The Big Red was back on top 7-4.
One inning from a sweep for @HuskerSoftball, just took a 7-4 lead on a HUGE three-run homer from @arm_strong21... pic.twitter.com/9d1e7VEfsd
— huskers W (@huskers_w) March 22, 2015
Michigan State wasn’t done yet. They began the seventh with a homer by Kujawa to left field followed by a double by Gutknecht. Looking to prevent any further runs from scoring, Husker Coach Rhonda Revelle lifted Emily Lockman and brought in Cassie McClure to close out the game. The Huskers get the sweep with a 7-5 victory.
Emily Lockman got the win and is now 8-7 on the year. She pitched 6.1 innings giving up 8 hits with 5 runs scored. Cassie McClure got her third save of the season, facing just two batters to end the game. Nebraska is now 15-12 (3-0 Big Ten) on the season.
Nebraska goes on the road for a Tuesday doubleheader with the Iowa Hawkeyes. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.(CDT). You can watch both games as the Big Ten Network will be covering them LIVE.