Huskers dominate Hawkeyes in doubleheader WIN

After a weather cancellation on Tuesday, Nebraska softball got underway Wednesday afternoon for a doubleheader versus Iowa softball at Bob Pearl softball field in Iowa City, IA. The Cornhusker bats were HOT on a very COLD day as they swept the Iowa Hawkeyes 12-2 in game one and 16-7 in game two.

GAME 1

Wednesday, the Huskers run-ruled the Hawkeyes 12-2 in six innings. NU right-hander Emily Lockman got the start in the circle and she was magnificent. Lockman pitched her sixth complete game of the season, allowing just two runs on four hits and striking out five. She retired nine of the final 10 Hawkeyes. Her record is now 9-7 on the season.

Offensively, Nebraska was a hitting juggernaut with 14 hits in the game. The Big Red began the game scoring 4 runs and ended the game plating 5 runs. Husker catcher Steph Pasquale was on fire at the plate as she homered for the 3rd time in 4 games. She went 3-for-4, blasting a homer, two doubles and drove in five runs. Kicking the Husker offense into high gear, center fielder Kiki Stokes continued her hitting streak going 3-for-4 at the dish. Cassie McClure and Kat Woolman kept it going with 2 RBI’s a piece.

Iowa could only muster 2 runs – one in the 1st inning and one in the 4th. Two Hawkeye fielding errors helped Nebraska build and extend their lead in route to the NU victory.

GAME 2

Nebraska had to work a little harder to earn the 16 -7 victory. Iowa bats were warmed up after losing the first contest and they came after the Huskers.

The Big Red started sophomore right hander Cassie in the pitching circle. After holding the Hawkeyes scoreless in the first inning, McClure ran into trouble. Iowa tagged McClure for two runs in the second and four runs in the third. Husker freshman pitcher Kaylan Jablonski entered the circle in relief of McClure in the 3rd to shut down the Hawkeyes. She pitched the remainder of the game, allowing only one more run to score in the Hawkeye sixth inning. Jablonski was awarded the save which is her first Husker career victory.

Offensively, Nebraska began the 2nd game of the doubleheader just like the first. They scored 4 runs in the top of the first inning. Steph Pasquale hit her second home run of the doubleheader, a two-run homer, that gave the Huskers a 4-0 lead. Big Red stretched their lead in the top of the second with a two-run homer by Kiki Stokes to lead 6-0.

Nebraska held a slim one-run lead of Iowa 7 -6 in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Husker Kat Woolman singled and Nebraska loaded the bases when Mattie Fowler and Laura Barrow walked. Kiki Stokes was hit by a pitch to score the first run of the inning. MJ Knighten stepped to the plate and blasted a grand slam to left field to boost the lead to 12-6.

The Huskers would go on to score two runs in the sixth inning and secure the run-rule victory with two more runs in the top of 7th. The offensive production from Steph Pasquale, MJ Knighten and Kiki Stokes was important in this Husker victory. Pasquale went 4-for-5 with a double, two homers and five RBIs. MJ Knighten went 3-for-4 with a double, a grand slam and four RBIs. Kiki Stokes homered and drove in three. The Huskers achieved their goal of a sweep against Iowa!

The Huskers are now 17-12 overall and 5-0 in league play. They return home this weekend for a three-game series Friday through Sunday with No. 12 Minnesota. Stay tuned to follow the Huskers through the season and as always, GO BIG RED!!