A walk-off single handed Nebraska its second-straight ninth-inning loss, as Oklahoma rallied for a pair of runs in the final frame to take down the Huskers, 7-6, on Sunday afternoon at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field.

Nebraska (1-2) scored six runs on seven hits with two errors, while Oklahoma (2-1) had seven runs on 11 hits and a pair of errors.

Riley Silva and Josh Caron led the way at the plate for the Huskers, combining to go 4-for-8 with a pair of RBI. Cayden Brumbaugh, Dylan Carey, and Joshua Overbeek each added a hit for the Big Red. In three games this weekend, Overbeek finished .417 (5-for-12) at the plate.

Caleb Clark allowed one run on three hits and struck out a trio of batters in his 2.1 innings of work. Timmerman appeared in his second game of the weekend, punching out his only batter faced, while Drew Christo made his season debut with a pair of relief innings. Kyle Froelich also made his Husker debut with a scoreless sixth frame. Casey Daiss was dealt the loss in the ninth inning after allowing a pair of runs on three hits.

The Huskers got the scoring started in the opening frame, with Overbeek drawing a one-out walk before advancing to second on a single from Carey. A swinging third-strike from Stone and a throwing error behind the dish plated both Overbeek and Carey to give Nebraska a 2-0 lead.

Clark worked himself out of trouble in the first and second innings, escaping danger with a runner in scoring position both times. The Sooners got to the sophomore in third inning, however, loading the bases and cutting the deficit in half after a throwing error scored the Sooners’ Jason Walk.

A move to the bullpen paid off as Timmerman struck out his lone batter faced to strand the bases loaded. With Nebraska going down quietly in the top half, Christo made his season debut in the fourth inning, working around a leadoff walk to force a double-play ball and retire the side without trouble. 

Nebraska’s offense got going in the fifth frame, with Silva slapping a single up the middle and advancing to third on a double from Brumbaugh. Overbeek’s hot weekend continued with a two-run single to extend the Huskers advantage to 4-1.

A Carey groundout moved the junior into scoring position, setting the table for Caron who drove him in for his first RBI of the season. With a 5-1 lead, Christo allowed a pair of runs to cross after surrendering a single and walk to begin the inning.  He quickly retired the next two batters before an RBI single and run-scoring wild-pitch allowed Oklahoma to hang around and make it a 5-3 game.

Gabe Swansen led off the sixth with a walk and swiftly stole second before advancing to third on a flyout. A fielder’s choice cut him down at the plate but set the table for Silva’s RBI single later in the inning to push the advantage to 6-3 as he drove in Cole Evans.

Froelich needed just 18 pitches to retire the Sooners in order in the sixth inning, before the Huskers mustered just a Caron single in the top half of the seventh. Making his second appearance of the weekend, Kyle Perry allowed a two-run home run to left field off the bat of Bryce Madron to cut the lead to 6-5.

The southpaw struck out the next two batters, before handing the ball off to Borst who forced a lineout to end the threat. A walk and stolen base from Garrett Anglim was negated by a fielder's choice in the Huskers' half of the eighth, before Borst retired the side in the bottom half to complete his scoreless four-out appearance.

Daiss worked around a leadoff single in the ninth inning to set down the next two batters and bring the Huskers one out away from victory. However, Michael Snyder's double, coupled with a fielding error, and Jaxon Willits' walkoff RBI single handed Nebraska its second loss in as many days in the final inning.

The Huskers return to the diamond for a four-game road set next weekend in Phoenix, Ariz., as they meet Grand Canyon from Feb. 22-25 at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.

HUSKERS DROP TIGHT DUAL TO TOP-RANKED PSU

University Park, Pa. - Four Huskers claimed bout victories, but it was not enough as the No. 3 Nebraska wrestling team fell to top-ranked Penn State on Sunday afternoon, 22-13.

Caleb Smith (125) earned an upset major decision victory, Ridge Lovett remained undefeated at 149 and Lenny Pinto grabbed a 184 Top 10 decision, but PSU used three bonus-points to improve to 11-0 on the year and claim the Big Ten Regular Season title. With the loss, NU fell to 11-2 (6-2 Big Ten) on the season. 

The meet started at 125 where No. 12 Smith faced No. 6 Braeden Davis of Penn State. The two wrestled a scoreless first period before Smith scored an escape, two takedowns and four nearfall points to earn the 11-3 major decision and his second-straight Top 10 victory.

With the early 4-0 lead for NU, No. 17 Jacob Van Dee wrestled unranked Baylor Shunk at 133. Van Dee held the advantage early after two takedowns in Period One and held steady to earn his sixth Big Ten victory, 6-2.

Up next at 141, No. 7 Brock Hardy faced No. 1 Beau Bartlett, looking for his second win all-time against the Nittany Lion. Hardy earned an escape in each period and a takedown, but it was not enough as Bartlett held on late for the 9-6 decision. 

At 149, undefeated and top-ranked Lovett met true freshman No. 9 Tyler Kasak. Lovett gave up his first dual takedown of the year, but responded quickly with a reversal and an escape to tie the match 3-3 with one period remaining. In Period Three, Lovett took a shot and scored the takedown en route to his 10th ranked win of the season, 7-3.   

In a rematch of last year’s Big Ten Finals, No. 7 Peyton Robb faced top-ranked Levi Haines at 157 with the Huskers leading 10-3. Robb earned three escapes, but Haines used three takedowns to take the 10-3 decision. 

After a brief intermission, No. 15 Antrell Taylor wrestled Penn State’s undefeated No. 6 Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165. Taylor scored a quick takedown in the opening seconds and held the early 3-1 lead with two periods remaining. Mesenbrink then got his first lead of the match with a takedown and added another takedown to claim the decision, 9-5, and cut the overall Husker lead to 10-9. 

At 174, No. 33 Bubba Wilson faced Penn State’s fourth top-ranked wrestler of the day, Carter Starocci. Three-time NCAA Champion Starocci scored takedowns in every period to earn the 20-4 tech. fall over Wilson, and Penn State took its first lead of the dual. 

No. 3 Pinto then wrestled No. 6 Bernie Truax at 184 in the dual’s fourth Top 10 bout. Pinto came out firing with two early takedowns and used great defense to lead 6-3 after two periods. Truax scored a takedown in the final period, but Pinto tallied a pair of escapes to hold on for the 8-6 decision. 

With two matches remaining and the Huskers down by one overall, two Big Ten Champs met as No. 13 Silas Allred faced No. 1 Aaron Brooks at 197. Allred earned escape points, but Brooks controlled from start to finish to claim the 17-4 major decision and pushed the Penn State lead to 18-13. 

In the final bout of the day, Nash Hutmacher squared off against top-ranked and undefeated Greg Kerkvliet at heavyweight. Kerkvliet controlled the match and momentum from the beginning and stayed undefeated on the year with the 10-0 major decision. 

Up next, the Huskers close out regular-season competition as they travel to Tempe, Ariz., on Sunday, Feb. 25, to face No. 20 Arizona State. Action is set to begin at 2 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on the Pac-12 Network. 

No. 1 Penn State 22, No. 3 Nebraska 13
125: No. 12 Smith major dec. No. 6 Braeden Davis (PSU) 11-3 (NEB 4, PSU 0)
133: No. 17 Van Dee dec. Baylor Shunk (PSU) 6-2 (NEB 7, PSU 0)
141: No. 1 Beau Bartlett (PSU) dec. No. 7 Hardy 9-6 (NEB 7, PSU 3)
149: No. 1 Lovett dec. No. 9 Tyler Kasak (PSU) 7-3 (NEB 10, PSU 3)
157: No. 1 Levi Haines (PSU) dec. No. 7 Robb 10-3 (NEB 10, PSU 6)
165: No. 6 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) dec. No. 15 Taylor 9-5 (NEB 10, PSU 9)
174: No. 1 Carter Starocci (PSU) tech. fall No. 33 Wilson 20-4 (5:58) (PSU 14, NEB 10)
184: No. 3 Pinto dec. No. 6 Bernie Truax (PSU) 8-6 (PSU 14, NEB 13)
197: No. 1 Aaron Brooks (PSU) major dec. No. 13 Silas Allred 17-4 (PSU 18, NEB 13)
HWT: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) major dec. Nash Hutmacher 10-0 (PSU 22, NEB 13) 

GRAY POWERS HUSKERS PAST HORNETS

Sydney Gray hit a pair of three-run homers to power the Nebraska softball team to an 8-3 come-from-behind victory over Sacramento State Sunday in Las Cruces, N.M.

Nebraska trailed by three early and had been shut out until a four-run fifth inning, which was capped by Gray's go-ahead three-run homer. The Huskers had another four-run inning in the seventh, which was again capped by a three-run homer for Gray.

Gray finished 2-for-4 with a career-high six RBIs against the Hornets. Her two home runs marked the third multi-homer game of her career. Peyton Cody went 4-for-4 to set a career high in hits, while Bella Bacon, Ava Bredwell and Brooke Andrews had two hits apiece, with Bredwell driving in a pair of runs. Nebraska pounded out 15 hits in the win.

Caitlin Olensky (1-0) earned her first career win for Nebraska, pitching 2.1 innings of one-hit, shutout relief. Kaylin Kinney picked up her first save of the season by pitching 3.0 scoreless innings of hitless relief. Emmerson Cope made her first career start and allowed three unearned runs in 1.2 innings. Combined, Nebraska's staff did not allow an earned run in the game.

The win was Nebraska's fourth straight victory, with the Huskers coming from behind in all four wins. NU finished with a 4-1 weekend in New Mexico to improve to 6-3 on the season. Sacramento State, the defending Big Sky Conference regular-season champions, fell to 6-3 with its second loss to Nebraska in as many days. Savannah Wahl (2-1) suffered her first loss of the season, allowing four runs in 5.0 innings.

Nebraska threatened to take an early lead in the top of the second inning. Cody led off with a single and pinch runner Katelyn Caneda moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a ground out. Caneda then tried to score when a pitch got away from the catcher, but the ball bounced hard off the backstop and right back to the catcher, who threw to the pitcher in time to get Caneda at the plate.

Sacramento State then took advantage of a Husker error in the bottom of the second. The Hornets had a runner at first with two outs before an error extended the inning. Malissa George made the Huskers pay for the miscue, as she followed with a three-run homer to give the Hornets a 3-0 advantage.

After falling behind, Nebraska left the bases loaded in both the third and fourth innings. In the third, Brooke Andrews singled and Alina Felix walked to start the frame. After a strikeout, Billie Andrews reached on an infield single to load the bases with one out. But the next two batters were retired to end the threat.

In the top of the fourth, Cody singled and Bredwell reached on an error to start the inning. The next two Huskers were retired before Felix singled to load the bases. But once again NU was held off the scoreboard as a ground out ended the inning.

The Huskers finally broke through with a two-out rally in the fifth inning. The first two Huskers were retired before Bella Bacon got the rally started with a double. Cody followed with a single and with runners on the corners, Ava Bredwell put Nebraska on the board with an RBI single. Gray then gave Nebraska a 4-3 lead with a towering three-run homer to left field.

Nebraska added four insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Bacon began the inning with an infield single and Cody followed with another single, her fourth hit of the game. Bacon and pinch runner Mckinley Malecha each moved up a base on a passed ball before Bredwell hit an RBI single to score Bacon and stretch the Husker lead to 5-3. Gray then blasted her second three-run homer of the game.

Leading 8-3 with still no outs in the inning, Nebraska loaded the bases on a Brooke Andrews single, a Felix walk and a Caitlynn Neal infield single. But the next three Huskers were retired, as Nebraska left the bases loaded for the third time in the game.

Kinney then retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the game and record the save.

Nebraska returns to action next weekend, when the Huskers take on a challenging schedule at the Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, Calif.

Post-Game Notes

• Nebraska won its fourth straight game, with the Huskers coming from behind in all four wins.
• Sydney Gray tied her career high with two home runs and set a career high with six RBIs. Gray drove in 10 runs in five games on the weekend.
• Peyton Cody went 4-for-4 to set a career high in hits. Cody went 6-for-10 on the weekend with a double, a homer and three RBIs.
• Bella Bacon went 2-for-5 to produce her fourth consecutive multi-hit game. She finished 8-for-18 on the weekend with two doubles and three RBIs.
• Alina Felix went 1-for-2 with a career-high two walks. Felix went 7-for-11 on the weekend with a double and three RBIs.
• Emmerson Cope made her first career start in the circle for Nebraska.
• Caitlin Olensky earned her first career win for Nebraska.
• Cope and Olensky, a pair of freshmen, combined to allow only one earned run in 12.1 innings in New Mexico.
• Kaylin Kinney earned the save, her first of the season and fourth of her career.
• Overall, Nebraska's pitching staff posted a 1.75 ERA over five games on the weekend.

HUSKERS FINISH 10-3 OVERALL IN ARKANSAS

Jonesboro, Ark. - After a grueling championship bracket, the Nebraska bowling team battled through three top-ranked opponents to finish fifth at the 2024 Mid-Winter Invite, finishing with a 10-3 record and 72-31 mark overall.

Despite sitting as the No. 6 seed for Sunday's bracket, the Huskers were a force in Arkansas with a 8-2 record after the first two days, including six top-20 wins over No. 1 Jacksonville State, No. 2 Youngstown State, No. 3 Arkansas State, No. 8 Stephen F. Austin, No. 15 Wisconsin-Whitewater and No. 17 Oklahoma Christian.

The Huskers faced No. 10 Maryville in the first match of bracket play on Sunday. NU had a good showing in game one taking the lead 1-0 with a 202-154 victory, but the Saints answered with three-straight wins (209-187, 225-172, 195-177) in games two through four. NU responded with a pair of victories in games five (236-168) and six (201-157), but after a chopped spare in game seven, Maryville took game seven (206-184) and the match, 4-3. 

Up next, NU bowled No. 11 Sam Houston State, who most recently edged out the Huskers a week ago at the Flyer Classic, winning in the title match, 4-2. In a one-pin difference, the Bearkats took game one (199-198) before Nebraska took back to back wins in games two (168-158) and three (245-206). SHSU answered in game four (268-193) before Nebraska gained a 3-2 lead in game five (237-192). Sam Houston would claw back in game six (214-191) forcing a best of seven tiebreaker with the Huskers grabbing the 258-213 win, to take the match 4-3.

After two-straight seven game matches, the work was not finished as the Big Red was slated to face off against No. 2 Youngstown State, whom the Huskers defeated previously this weekend in the five-game baker format. The Penguins earned the 1-0 lead after game one (223-206) before Nebraska tied it with a double win (234-199, 211-179) in games two and three. Then game four would go to the Penguins (266-194) as well as game five (212-170). With YSU holding a 3-2 lead, Nebraska was able to respond in game six (176-158) before forcing NU’s third seventh game tie breaker of the day winning 259-174 (4-3) to seal up a fifth-place finish and a 10-3 weekend.

Up Next, the Huskers return to the lanes in their final regular season appearance at the NCATSU Stallings Invitational at Greensboro, N.C., Feb. 23 hosted by No. 4 North Carolina A&T.

Mid-Winter Invitational Final Standings:

No. 3 Arkansas State
No. 5 Vanderbilt
No. 10 Maryville
No. 1 Jacksonville State
No. 6 Nebraska
No. 2 Youngstown State
No. 11 Sam Houston State
No. 23 McKendree
No. 16 Newman
No. 7 Louisiana Tech
No. 8 Stephen F. Austin
No. 17 Oklahoma Christian
No. 15 Wisconsin Whitewater
Alabama State
No. 24 Central Missouri
Alabama A&M
Jackson State
Grambling