Freshman Alina Felix drove in the winning run with a single to left field in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Nebraska softball team (31-13, 11-4) opened the weekend with a 7-6 victory over Wisconsin (22-15, 7-6 Big Ten). 

Felix entered the game in the sixth inning and provided a timely spark for the Husker offense. Four Huskers added two hits on the night while Caitlynn Neal finished with two RBI as NU out-hit the Badgers, 12-9. 

Katie Keller and Molly Schlosser both finished with two hits and two RBI, leading the way for Wisconsin. 

Courtney Wallace (20-8) went the distance, earning the complete-game victory in the circle for the Huskers. Wallace pitched 10.0 innings, the longest outing of her career. 

Maddie Schwartz moved to 8-10 on the season, recording the loss for the Badgers. Schwartz pitched 9.2 innings, allowing 12 hits and seven runs (0 earned runs). 

The Huskers got out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Billie Andrews led off with a double, advancing to third on a passed ball. Katelyn Caneda drove in Andrews with a single for the first run of the game. 

Nebraska added three more runs in the bottom of the second. Brooke Andrews led off with a single, advancing to second on a fielder's choice error. A ground out moved the runners to second and third. With two outs, Neal singled to right center scoring two. Billie Andrews added her second hit of the day with a single, advancing to second on the throw and moving Neal to third. A wild pitch scored Neal and gave the Huskers the 4-0 advantage.

The Badgers responded with two runs in the third inning. Skylar Sirdashney doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a ground out. Katie Keller added a single to left field, scoring Sirdashney. With two outs, Molly Schlosser singled up the middle, scoring Keller and bringing the score to 4-2. 

Wisconsin took the 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth inning. A hit by pitch, double and walk loaded the bases for the Badgers. With one out, a single to right field drove in the first run of the inning. Kayla Konwent added a single to left field, scoring one. With two outs, a walk brought in the third run of the inning. 

NU evened the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth. Abbie Squier doubled to left center, putting a runner in scoring position. Ava Bredwell reached after being walked. A fielder's choice forced Squier out at third. Neal singled to shortstop, driving in Bredwell. 

After a scoreless seventh inning, the Badgers struck first in the eighth with one run. With the bases loaded, Christaana Angelopulos was walked, bringing in Keller as Wisconsin took the 6-5 lead. 

The Huskers tied it in the bottom of the eighth. Squier singled to right field, advancing to third on a Badger error. A passed ball scored Squier, and evened the game at 6-6. 

Nebraska held Wisconsin scoreless through the ninth and 10th innings, claiming the walk-off victory in the bottom of the 10th. Brooke Andrews walked, but she was out at second after Squier reached on a fielder's choice. Squier stole second and advanced to third on a Wisconsin throwing error. Felix followed with a single to left field, driving in Squier for the 7-6 win over the Badgers. 

The Huskers return to action Saturday, April 22, for game two of a three-game series against the Badgers. The game is set for 3 p.m. (CT), and it will be streamed live on BTN+ (subscription required). Fans can listen to the action live on the Huskers Radio Network and Huskers.com with the call from Matt Coatney. Fans who attended the Nebraska Football Spring Game can claim a free softball GA ticket at the gate. 

Game Notes

  • Tonight's 10-inning game marked the longest game since the Huskers went 14 innings against Wisconsin on May 7, 2016 when the Huskers fell to the Badgers, 4-6. 
  • Courtney Wallace appeared in her 22nd-consecutive game tonight. This marks the longest-consecutive appearances since Ashley Hagemann appeared in 24 straight games at the end of the 2011 season. 
  • Wallace's 10-inning complete-game performance marked the longest outing in her career.

Huskers Collect Top Finishes on First Day in Waco

Nebraska track and field completed its first day at the Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco, Texas on Friday, highlighted by three runner-up finishes and 10 personal-best performances. 

A trio of Huskers claimed top-five placements in the women's discus. Kalynn Meyer hit a personal-best mark (175-9, 53.58m) to earn the runner-up finish. That is the eighth-best mark in school history. Betty Rosvold took third with a 172-2 (52.48m) and Taylor Latimer placed fourth with a personal-best 171-10 (52.37m).

Maxwell Otterdahl (188-2, 57.35m) and Jonah Wilson (183-6, 55.94m) each pitched in season-best marks in the men's discus, placing fourth and fifth. 

Latimer led the Big Red in the women's hammer throw, finishing third with a personal-best distance of 202-4 (61.68m). That mark moves Latimer up to fourth on the all-time list. Tanessa Morris and Hillevi Carlsson added top-five placements with marks of 200-8 (61.16m) and 196-10 (60.00m), respectively.

In the men's hammer throw, Otterdahl claimed the runner-up finish with a personal-best 197-2 (60.11m). Nick Ronnfeldt posted a personal-best 188.07 (57.50m) to place sixth, while Josh Marcy finished eighth with a personal-best 184-4 (56.18m).

Kavian Kerr brought in runner-up honors with a 25-3 1/4 (7.70m) in the men's long jump. Michael Hoffer leaped 24-1 3/4 (7.36m) to take fourth.

Ashley McElmurry set a wind-aided personal-best mark in the women's long jump, placing third with a 20-6 1/4 (6.25m). Zionn Pearson finished fifth with a 20-4 1/2 (6.21m).

Taya Skelton ran a personal-best 4:35.14 in the 1500m, finishing third. Cami Merickel added a sixth-place finish with a 4:35.96. In the 5000m, Emma Ralston clocked a 17:31.12 to place fifth.

Omar Rodgers crossed the line at 52.43 in the men's 400m hurdles to take fifth, while Joseph Clifford placed ninth with a personal-best 52.90. Karlie Moore clocked a personal-best 1:01.19 in the women's 400m hurdles to finish 10th.

Nebraska is set to return to action tomorrow at 11 a.m. (CT) for field events and 12 p.m. (CT) for running events.

Strand, Thiele Lead Huskers at Big Ten Championship

Kelli Ann Strand and Lindsey Thiele carded rounds of 74 (+3) to lead the Nebraska women's golf team on the opening day of the Big Ten Championship in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Strand got off to a solid start by playing the front nine at even-par 36, before closing the back nine with a three-over 38 on the 6,045-yard, par-71 layout of the Fox Chapel Golf Club on Friday. The freshman from Challis, Idaho is tied for 19th heading to Saturday's second round.

Thiele, a junior from Wahoo, Neb., played the front at 38 (+2) with eight pars and a double-bogey on No. 6. She managed birdies on No. 11 and No. 14 and headed to No. 16 at even par, before closing her round with three straight bogeys to match Strand in a tie for 19th.

Sophomore Andrea Velez (Pereira, Colombia) stepped up in a big way for the Big Red, closing her first Big Ten Championship round with a 75 (+4) while playing out of the No. 6 spot in Nebraska's six-count-four lineup. Velez played the front nine at 37 (+1) with eight pars and a bogey on No. 6, then added four more pars over the next five holes. She enters the second round in a tie for 22nd.

Velez's performance helped the Huskers overcome the absence of Miu Takahashi, who attempted to play her round despite battling illness. The sophomore from Nasu-machi, Japan, who entered the tournament tied with graduate student Megan Whittaker for Nebraska's second-best stroke average on the season, was unable to finish her round.

Whittaker also got off to a slow start in her fourth Big Ten Championship appearance but steadied on the back nine. The Elkhorn, Neb., native took the turn at 41, then registered eight pars and just one bogey on the back nine to finish the day at 77 (+6) with NU's fourth counting score. Whittaker ended the first round in a tie for 43rd.

Junior Michaela Vavrova, who is making her third Big Ten Championship appearance, managed a 78 (+7) to head to Saturday's second round in a tie for 57th.

"Our players showed some great resilience in battling through adversity in today's round," Nebraska Coach Jeanne Sutherland said. "Losing one of your top players is a blow, but they all kept battling. We are right in the thick of a tight team race after 18 holes, and we'll see if we can make some adjustments and improve our position tomorrow."

Illinois posted Friday's best team round with a 286 (+2), while No. 24 Ohio State closed in second at 292 (+8). No. 33 Maryland managed a 294 (+10), while No. 15 Northwestern and Wisconsin sit in a tie for fourth at 295 (+11). Nebraska sits in eighth place at 300, just eight strokes out of second place heading to the second round.

The Big Ten Championship continues with 18 holes on Saturday at Fox Chapel Golf Club beginning with tee times at 7:30 a.m. (CT).

Big Ten Championship
April 21-23, 2023
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Fox Chapel Golf Club (Par 71, 6,045 Yards)

Team Standings (One Round)
1. Illinois - 286 (+2)
2. Ohio State - 292 (+8)
3. Maryland - 294 (+10)
T4. Northwestern - 295 (+11)
T4. Wisconsin - 295 (+11)
6. Indiana - 296 (+12)
7. Purdue - 297 (+13)
8. Nebraska - 300 (+16)
T9. Michigan - 301 (+17)
T9. Minnesota - 301 (+17)
11. Michigan State - 302 (+18)
12. Iowa - 303 (+19)
13. Penn State - 307 (+23)
14. Rutgers - 311 (+27)

Individual Leaderboard (One Round)
T1. Emily Lauterbach, Wisconsin - 69 (-2)
T1. Isabel Sy, Illinois - 69 (-2)
T1. Momo Sugiyama - 69 (-2)
T4. Siyan Chen, Illinois - 70 (-1)
T4. Shannon Kennedy, Michigan State - 70 (-1)
T4. Kailie Vongsaga, Ohio State - 70 (-1)
T7. Isabella McCauley, Minnesota - 71 (E)
T7. Crystal Wang, Illinois - 71 (E)
T7. Anika Dy, Michigan - 71 (E)
T10. Seven Golfers - 72 (+1)

Nebraska Individuals
T19. Kelli Ann Strand - 74 (+3)
T19. Lindsey Thiele - 74 (+3)
T22. Andrea Velez - 75 (+4)
T43. Megan Whittaker - 77 (+6)
T57. Michaela Vavrova - 78 (+7)
DNF - Miu Takahashi (did not complete round, illness)