Huskers win both games at Ohio State

After sitting out a rainy Friday, the Nebraska softball team was ready and raring to go on Saturday at Ohio State. Under sunny skies, the Huskers won both games of the doubleheader, 7-5 and 11-7 at Buckeye Field in Columbus, OH.

GAME 1

Husker junior right-hander Emily Lockman pitched her second straight complete-game victory over a conference foe. She allowed 5 runs, three of them earned, on 11 hits while striking out 3. Lockman allowed 2 runs in the Buckeye first and 3 more in the Buckeye fourth.

The Nebraska offense got going in the 2nd inning. Kylee Muir and Laura Barrow each produced a pair of clutch hits. Muir blasted a 2-run homer and Barrow gave Nebraska its first lead with an RBI double in the second inning.

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The Big Red put up 2 more runs in the top of the fourth. Ohio State answered with a 2-out solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. A Husker fielding error extended the inning and the Buckeyes tied the game at 5- 5 with a two-run homer to left.

In the Nebraska 7th, the Cornhusker offense put together a double and two singles to add two more runs. Ahead by two runs, NU’s Lockman shut down the Buckeye offense in the bottom of the seventh to preserve a 7-5 victory.  Lockman has now won 13 of her last 14 Big Ten starts. Nebraska improves to 19-16 on the season,  7-2 in Big Ten Conference play.

GAME 2

The momentum from game 1 victory propelled the Huskers to an 11 – 7 “W” in game 2. Nebraska collected 14 hits, sparked by five home runs. NU catcher Steph Pasquale homered twice, Kylee Muir homered for the second straight game, third baseman MJ Knighten homered and Husker freshman hurler Kaylan Jablonski hit her FIRST career home run.

Husker pitcher Kaylan Jablonski (2-5) earned her 2nd “W” of the season. She gave up 9 hits, 7 runs, (5 earned) in 4.2 innings. After Ohio State scored 3 runs in the bottom of the fifth, Jablonski was lifted. Sophomore Cassie McClure came on in relief and tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless ball to pick up her 4th save of the year.

This was a see-saw affair. Ohio State jumped out on top with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Nebraska would score five runs in the next two innings before the Buckeyes came roaring back with 3 runs in the bottom of the third inning to cut the lead to 4 – 5.

Husker bats were hot as they plated another 4 runs in the next two innings. Ohio State offense made a valiant comeback attempt as they plated 3 runs in the bottom of the 5th. However, Nebraska would score last in the top of the sixth adding two runs to earn the 11 – 7 victory over Ohio State.

With the doubleheader victories, Nebraska improves to 20-16 on the season (8-2 in Big 10). Huskers and the Buckeyes complete their 3-game series on Sunday at 11am(CDT). Nebraska would love a “sweep” to strengthen their run up to a possible return to post-season play.

Follow your Huskers here and as always, GO BIG RED!!