Three Nebraska track and field athletes took center stage at the NCAA Indoor Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Friday.

Alex Talley became a first-team All-American for the second consecutive season in the weight throw after placing seventh with a launch of 72-9 1/4 (22.18m). Talley placed sixth in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championships last season.

Darius Luff had the fifth-fastest time in the prelims of the 60m hurdles, tying his personal-best time of 7.67 set earlier this season at the Tyson Invitational. The 7.67 is currently tied for third all-time in program history.

Darby Thomas finished 12th in the long jump with a leap of 20-6 1/4 (6.25m) to become an All-American for the first time in her career, earning second-team All-America recognition.

The Huskers resume the NCAA Indoor Championships on Saturday. At 12:30 p.m., Mayson Conner will compete in the men's high jump and Jenna Rogers will take part in the women's high jump. At 4 p.m., Talley and Burger Lambrechts Jr. will throw for the Huskers in the men's shot put. Luff will race in the 60-meter hurdles final at 4:40 p.m. Finally, Axelina Johansson will compete in the shot put at 7 p.m. All the action can be seen on ESPN3.com.

Ossi Places Ninth at NCAA Championships

Colorado Springs, Colo.- Nebraska rifle captain Cecelia Ossi placed ninth with a score of 588 in the individual smallbore competition of the 2022 NCAA Championships Friday afternoon.

There were three smallbore relays on Friday and a total of 45 competitors. Ossi competed in the second relay of the day and was in sixth after that relay.

"Today's match was very tough mentally. Going in, I had some new changes that I was working on and knew I would have to be very disciplined for them to work," Ossi said. "Overall, I'm pleased with performing within my average and I'm extremely thankful for the support of my coaches and teammates here and at home."

Ossi's ninth place finish caps off her season of top finishes and records for the sophomore. She shot a personal and school best 597 in the air rifle and a personal best 589 in the smallbore this year. Her average air rifle score was a 590.75 and her average smallbore score was a 586.17 – the school best. 

"Cecelia worked harder than most to make it here and represent Nebraska. She has done phenomenally over the season and posted a great score from the match," head coach Mindy Miles said. "Sadly, she didn't make the cut for the finals. The competition is extremely competitive and was just under the mark. We are incredibly proud of her and look forward to next season with her."

Mary Tucker of Kentucky placed first in the smallbore competition.

Ybarra’s Walk-Off Homer Powers Huskers to 10-9 Win

The Nebraska softball team (12-6) started the weekend with a win against Sacramento State (11-9). The offensive battle between the two teams was showcased in the 10-9 win with a walk-off two-run homer from Cam Ybarra for the Big Red. 

Olivia Ferrell (6-3) recorded the win for the Huskers, pitching 2.0 innings and recording four strikeouts. 

For the Hornets, Marissa Bertuccio (11-9) pitched a complete game, walking five batters and giving up 13 hits. 

It was an offensive battle throughout the afternoon. The Hornets struck first with a two-out solo homer from Lexie Webb in the top of the first inning to take the lead, 1-0. 

The Huskers responded in the bottom of the second inning. Kaylin Kinney led off with a hard hit ball to third base. Brooke Andrews moved Kinney to scoring position after a sacrifice bunt. Squier reached base after being hit by a pitch, but was out on the fielder's choice from a ground ball by Payton Glatter. With runners on first and third, Glatter stole second, forcing the throw down and scoring Kinney to make it a tied game at 1-1 going into the top of the third inning. 

Nebraska took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. A lead off walk but Billie Andrews at first. Cam Ybarra took advantage with a double to right center, scoring Andrews to go ahead, 2-1. 

Two walks and two homers in the top of the fourth inning led to Sacramento State regaining the lead, 5-2. Nikki Barboza hit a three-run home run over the right center field fence with no outs. After a strikeout and a ground out, Lewa Day added a homer of her own to right field. 

The Big Red cut the lead to 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth. Singles from Courtney Wallace, Billie Andrews and Ybarra loaded the bases. Singles Sydney Gray and Mya Felder helped cut the lead. 

However, the Hornets had another big inning in the top of the fifth inning. A string of singles from Lexie Webb, Carley Morfey, Rylee Gresham, Caroline Evans and Lewa Day extended Sacramento State's lead to 9-5. 

The Huskers would add four more to cut the lead to 9-8 in the bottom of the fifth. Abbie Squier started the inning with a double followed by a single from Wallace. Billie Andrews notched her first double of the year to score Squier. Ybarra hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Wallace, while Gray singled to score Billie Andrews. The Huskers went into the top of the sixth down, 9-8. 

After a scoreless sixth inning for both teams, Ferrell struck out three in a row to give Nebraska the final chance. 
After Wallace reached on a fielding error by third base, Billie Andrews hit a deep ball, but the left fielder was able to get it. Ybarra smashed a two-run homer over the right center field fence to claim the win, 10-9. 

Up Next
The Huskers will take on Cal State Fullerton at approximately 5:10 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and on the Huskers Radio Network with the call from Nate Rohr. 
 
Game Notes

• Billie Andrews' double in the bottom of the fifth is her first of the season. 
• Ybarra's walk-off homer was her fourth home run of the year. 
• The last walk off homer for Nebraska was April 14, 2017 when Austen Urness hit a solo-homer to give Nebraska a 2-1, 8-inning win over Penn State at Bowlin Stadium. 

Ferrell Lifts Huskers to 3-1 Win

The Nebraska softball team (13-6) claimed its second win of the day against Cal State Fullerton (14-8) Friday afternoon in Fullerton, Calif. In a defensive battle, the Huskers were able to hold off the Titans for a 3-1 win. 

Senior Olivia Ferrell (7-3) dominated in the circle for the Huskers, pitching the complete game, tallying six strikeouts and eight hits. 

In the circle for the Titans was Mirandi Raci and Alexia Silvas. Raci (3-2) earned the loss, pitching 4.0 innings, giving up three hits and walking two. Silvas did not give up a hit through 3.0 innings and recorded two strikeouts. 

The Titans only run of the afternoon game in the bottom of the first inning. After Hannah Becerra was walked, Deshea Hill flied out, giving Becerra the chance to tag and advance to scoring position. Daisy Munoz singled to shortstop, scoring Becerra and putting the Titans up 1-0. 

The Huskers responded quickly to take the lead. Kaylin Kinney led off in the top of the second inning, reaching first on an error by second base. Abbie Squier followed with a single up the middle, advancing Kinney to second. Glatter reached first on an error by the shortstop, loading the bases. A single up the middle from Ava Bredwell scored Kinney and advanced Squier and Glatter. Caitynn Neal reached on a fielder's choice, recording the first out at third and scoring Squier. Billie Andrews hit a single down the left line to load the bases. Cam Ybarra grounded out, but scored Neal and Bredwell to go up, 3-1.

A defensive battle, both Nebraska and Cal State Fullerton kept runners out of scoring position until the bottom of the fifth inning. Alexa Neil was walked and advanced to second when Kika Ramirez hit a single to left field. Megan Delgadillo grounded out, but advanced the runners to second and third. A ground out from Becerra and a fly out from Hill held the Titans to no runs despite being in position. 

NU worked to add to their lead in the top of the sixth inning. Kinney was hit by a pitch to reach first but was out second when Squier hit a ground ball for a fielder's choice. Squier stole second, and advanced to third with a ground ball from Glatter. However, the Big Red was not able to capitalize, heading into the bottom of the sixth ahead, 2-1. 

The Huskers were able to hold the Titans to only one run through seven to take the second game of the day, 2-1.

The Big Red return to action Saturday, March 12 at 11 a.m. CT to face Boston. The game will be broadcasted live on the Huskers Radio Network and Huskers.com with the call by Nate Rohr.

Huskers Fall to Top-10 Foes California, Hawaii

The Nebraska beach volleyball team took to Queen's Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii for day two of the Queen's Cup on Friday. The Huskers faced a pair of top-10 teams, falling 5-0 to No. 10 California and 5-0 to No. 9 Hawaii. 

Two Husker pairs were able to push Hawaii to a third set. Bekka Allick and Lexi Rodriguez, NU's No. 3 team, lost their first set, 19-21, but rebounded with a 21-19 win. However, Hawaii's team of Sarah Penner and Ilihia Huddleston pulled away 15-5 in the third set. 

Hayden Kubik and Whitney Lauenstein dropped their first set to Hawaii's No. 5 pair of Sydney Rau-Kim and Amirah Ali, 16-21, but bounced back to win 21-19. The Husker duo came up just short in the third set, falling 12-15. 

The Huskers, now 5-8 this season, will compete in the knockout rounds of the Queen's Cup on Saturday on Queen's Beach. NU's opponent and match time will be determined late Friday night after day two matches are completed. 

#10 California 5, Nebraska 0
March 11, 2022
Honolulu, Hawaii (Queen's Beach)

1. Mima Mirkovic/Ana Costa (CAL) def. Kenzie Knuckles/Madi Kubik (NEB) 21-13, 21-15
2. Ainsley Radell/Ava Mann (CAL) def. Ally Batenhorst/Keonilei Akana (NEB) 21-13, 21-8
3. Ashley Delgado/Brooke Buchner (CAL) def. Bekka Allick/Lexi Rodriguez (NEB) 21-13, 21-6
4. Lexi Mckeown/Ella Dreibholz (CAL) def. Lindsay Krause/Nicklin Hames (NEB) 21-17, 21-7
5. Natalie Martin/Maya Gessner (CAL) def. Whitney Lauenstein/Hayden Kubik (NEB) 21-9, 21-18
Order of finish: 2, 4, 3, 1, 5

#9 Hawaii 5, Nebraska 0
March 11, 2022
Honolulu, Hawaii (Queen's Beach)

1. Brooke Van Sickle/Riley Wagoner (UH) def. Kenzie Knuckles/Madi Kubik (NEB) 21-11, 21-19
2. Kaylee Glagau/Megan Widener (UH) def. Ally Batenhorst/Keonilei Akana (NEB) 21-15, 21-10
3. Sarah Penner/Ilihia Huddleston (UH) def. Bekka Allick/Lexi Rodriguez (NEB) 21-19, 19-21, 15-5
4. Sofia Russo/Anna Maidment (UH) def. Lindsay Krause/Nicklin Hames (NEB) 21-8, 21-12
5. Sydney Rau-Kim/Amirah Ali (UH) def. Hayden Kubik/Whitney Lauenstein (NEB) 21-16, 19-21, 15-12
Order of finish: 4,2,1,5,3

Huskers Set for Regular Season Finale