It was a rough weekend for the Nebraska softball team as the Huskers hosted Michigan for a three-game set in Lincoln.
Each team exchanged run-rule victories in the first two games and Michigan took the rubber match on Sunday by a score of 4-2.
Nebraska couldn’t figure out Michigan pitcher Lauren Derkowski. The sophomore right-hander earned two complete-game victories, struck out 13 batters and allowed three runs in 12 innings of work.
Brooke Andrews continued to produce at the plate with her ninth home run of the season. Ava Bredwell hit her second of the year, first since March 4, and Sydney Gray hit her first.
Nebraska dropped to 5-3 in conference play and is sitting in fifth in the Big Ten standings. The Huskers head to Maryland this weekend with game times set for 5 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Mental mistakes happen
The Huskers, on paper, don’t commit many errors. They have a .972 fielding percentage which is good for third in the Big Ten, Maryland and Rutgers lead with a .973 and .976.
Those numbers are great but don’t reflect mental mistakes like throwing to a base to try and get a lead-runner out instead of getting the for-sure out.
🎥 Full highlights from tonight's 10-1 win in the series opener at Nebraska. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/XadKd6eoEF
— Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) April 1, 2023
Make the adjustments
Derkowski is successful because of her off-speed pitches, specifically her change. The Huskers knew it was coming and still couldn’t make the adjustment.
The book is out now for the Husker lineup and the inability to sit change and make the adjustments to an off-speed pitcher.
🎥 Full highlights from today's 4-2, rubber-match win at Nebraska. #Goblue pic.twitter.com/bwVbTWDvsu
— Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) April 2, 2023
Caneda moves up in lineup
After spending the majority of the season in the bottom third of the lineup, head coach Rhonda Revelle moved Katelyn Caneda up to the two-hole this past weekend. She finished the weekend 5-for-8 with a run scored and one run batted in.
Keep fighting 😤
B5 | @KatelynCaneda knocks in a run with a sac fly! pic.twitter.com/U3gOzx6Jaa
— Nebraska Softball (@HuskerSoftball) April 2, 2023
Wallace leading Big Ten
Courtney Wallace continuers to be the ace of the Husker pitching staff. She holds a 16-7 record and 3.19 ERA. She has made 28 appearances, 19 starts, and has logged 129.2 innings.
She leads the Big Ten in innings pitched and wins.
Two-out rallies are contagious
On Saturday, Nebraska scored six runs in the fifth inning on two outs which included a pair of two-run home runs.
Might take a second to fetch that one. @brookeandrews_ doubles the Husker lead with her 9th HR of the season. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gBJkTzeqTO
— Nebraska Softball (@HuskerSoftball) April 1, 2023
Maren covers softball for Hail Varsity and co-hosts the Behind the Plate with Maren and Nate podcast.
