The Nebraska softball team was swept out of Evanston over the weekend by scores of 22-5, 8-9 and 10-9.
There is nothing good to report about Friday evening’s game. Northwestern had two 11-run innings and combined for 17 hits. Nebraska was held to three hits, two of them from Katelyn Caneda.
Courtney Wallace got the loss after giving up eight earned runs on six hits in 2.1 innings. She walked three and struck out two before Kendall Mangel came in to relieve the senior. Mangel gave up 14 runs, nine earned and 11 hits in 1.2 innings. She struck out one and walked three.
On Saturday, Nebraska took a 5-2 lead in the top of the fourth and things seemed to be going the Huskers’ way. They added another run in the top of sixth and then things escalated quickly. The Wildcats scored four in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and walked-off on a two-run home run by freshman Kansas Robinson in the bottom of the ninth.
Billie Andrews and Mya Felder homered and finished with two hits each.
Sarah Harness started the game for the Huskers. She gave up one earned run, one hit and walked two in two innings before Wallace gave up seven earned runs on 11 hits. She struck out seven and walked five in 6.2 innings.
Sunday brought a home run barrage from the Huskers as they launched a season-high five balls out of the park. Billie Andrews and Mya Felder each had two, Abbie Squier added one.
Nebraska raced out to a 2-0 lead, fell behind 2-4 and then jumped to a 9-4 lead headed into the bottom of the fifth. The lead disappeared courtesy of a six-run inning from the Wildcats.
Wallace fell to 21-11 and go the loss in all three games. She gave up four hits and six runs in 0.2 innings. Harness started and re-entered, allowing six hits and four runs in 5.1 innings.
The three losses dropped Nebraska to fourth in the Big Ten will a series against fifth-place Ohio State to close out conference play.
With it being the final home series of the season, the Huskers will celebrate Fan Appreciation Weekend. Friday’s game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT and there’s a throwback crewneck giveaway. Saturday is free admission and a Herbie t-shirt giveaway with first pitch at 1 p.m. The season finale on Sunday is at noon with a belt bag giveaway.
Maren covers softball for Hail Varsity and co-hosts the Behind the Plate with Maren and Nate podcast.
