Brett Sears’ third-straight quality start and four long balls fueled Nebraska to a 13-2 victory over against South Alabama at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park on Saturday afternoon.

Nebraska (8-4) scored 13 runs on 16 hits and left five men on base, while South Alabama (11-4) had two runs on five hits and left three men on base.

Garrett Anglim went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles at the plate for Nebraska, while Tyler Stone and Josh Caron each added two-run home runs. Clay Bradford slugged a pinch-hit three-run homer, while Rhett Stokes produced three hits and drove in three Husker runs. Case Sanderson finished 2-for-3 with a double and Riley Silva reached base on an RBI single.

Sears allowed two earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts across eight innings of work. The Westphalia, Iowa, native is now 2-0 with a 1.78 ERA across his first four starts this season. He has struck out seven batters in all four of his outings this season and has produced three-straight quality starts. Kyle Froehlich entered the game in the ninth and tossed a scoreless frame.

Sears picked up where he left off last week, striking out the side in the opening frame on just 11 pitches. The right-hander worked around a leadoff double in the second inning, setting down the next three batters in order to keep the game scoreless.

A one-out double from Caron gave Nebraska its first hit of the game, before Sanderson’s RBI single up the middle put Nebraska in front 1-0. Anglim continued the multi-run inning with a knock, followed by Stokes’ RBI single to double the Huskers lead after the second frame.

On the mound, Sears worked through the bottom half of the order without any trouble, producing five strikeouts across the first three innings.

Nebraska added to its lead after Stone’s walk, followed by a wild pitch put him in scoring position. Caron then launched his fourth home run of the season to right field to bring home Stone and push the Huskers’ lead to 4-0.

Nebraska’s offense continued to add to its lead, as Sanderson reached on a hit-by-pitch before Anglim’s double, his second hit of the day, put runners on second and third. Stokes brought home Sanderson with an RBI groundout, followed by Silva’s run-scoring single as the Huskers began to pull away.

The Jaguars got on the board in fifth inning as a leadoff double came around to score on JG Bell’s RBI single to make it 6-1.

However, Evans reached base to begin the sixth inning and Sanderson’s single put runners on the corners for the Big Red. Stokes drove in his third run of the afternoon with an RBI bunt for a base hit to extend the Nebraska lead to 7-1.

Hufft walked to open the seventh inning, before Stone launched a two-run home run to right field. Evans followed that up with a solo homer of his own, his first of the season, to pad the Huskers' lead.

The Huskers continued to pour it on in the eighth inning, as Anglim’s double and Stokes’ single set the table for Bradford’s pinch-hit three-run shot to make it 13-2 with Nebraska ahead. It marked Nebraska’s first pinch-hit homer since Ty Roserberry did so against Purdue in 2019.

Froehlich entered in the ninth inning and retired three of four batters faced to secure the win.

Nebraska and South Alabama wrap up the weekend series tomorrow at 12:05 p.m. CT with the rubber match at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park. Sunday’s matchup can be seen on B1G+, while fans can listen to Greg Sharpe and Ben McLaughlin call the action on the Huskers Radio Network.

HUSKERS TRIUMPH OVER TRITONS, 6-1

La Jolla, Calif. - With its 6-1 defeat over UCSD Saturday evening, the #56 Nebraska men’s tennis team improves to 9-4 on the season. The ninth victory ties the team’s best program start since the 2018 season. NU has two more matches in California in the upcoming week before beginning Big Ten conference play on March 22.

At the Northview Tennis Courts, home of UCSD, the Huskers took on the Tritons for their 13th match of the season. In doubles, Court Three’s Shunya Maruyama and Nikolay Sysoev took on Eric Silberman and Jett Cole, and defeated the duo 6-1. Next to finish was the No. 1 duo, Anton Shepp and Nic Wiedenhorn, matched up against Zach Pellouchoud and Pelayo Rodriguez. NU took the 6-4 victory, and the doubles point with the win. Calvin Mueller and Lars Johann’s match on Court Two was left unfinished, at 5-4.

In singles play, recently ranked #120 Anton Shepp made quick work of Phillip Lan on Court One, taking the first singles win, 6-1, 6-0. Sysoev played in the No. 6 slot and defeated Cole, 6-1, 6-2. Next to finish was Maruyama on Court Three, winning 6-1, 6-2, over Rodriguez, to clinch the match victory for the Big Red. Mueller had a tight first set, but dominated the second to win 7-6, 6-1. Chrisitiansen played Court Five, and defeated Charles Qian, 6-3, 6-2. Johann played in the No. 4 slot and found a close match against Pellouchoud. Johann dropped the first set, rallied to take the second, and fell just short in the tiebreaker, dropping the match, 3-6, 6-3, 0-1[8-10].

With the win over the Tritons, the Big Red improved to 9-4 on the season, the best 13-match program start since 2018. Five Huskers won their singles matches in straight sets, eight sets won with a margin of four or more games. No. 3 doubles duo Maruyama and Sysoev partnered for their eighth time, and improved to 2-0 in the spring season with their dominant 6-1 win. Nationally ranked Shepp tallied another win in singles, pushing his spring record with the Huskers to 11-2. Maruyama improved to 8-3 in spring singles, and Christiansen to 5-3.

Next up, #56 Nebraska will face #55 Yale for a neutral match at UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday, March 13 at noon (CT). On Friday, the Huskers will take on #53 UC Santa Barbara before starting conference play.

#56 Nebraska 6, UC San Diego 1

Doubles:
1. Anton Shepp/Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) def. Zach Pellouchoud/Pelayo Rodriguez (UCSD), 6-4
2. Calvin Mueller/Lars Johann (NEB) vs. Daniel Traxler/William Lan (UCSD), 5-4
3. Shunya Maruyama/Nikolay Sysoev (NEB) def. Eric Silberman/Jett Cole (UCSD), 6-1

Singles:
1. Anton Shepp (NEB) def. Phillip Lan (UCSD), 6-1, 6-0
2. Calvin Mueller (NEB) def. Diogo Tinoco (UCSD), 7-6, 6-1
3. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Pelayo Rodriguez (UCSD), 6-1, 6-2
4. Zach Pellouchoud (UCSD) def. Lars Johann (NEB), 6-3, 3-6, 10-8
5. Rudi Christiansen (NEB) def. Charles Qian (UCSD), 6-3, 6-2
6. Nikolay Sysoev (NEB) def. Jett Cole (UCSD), 6-1, 6-2

HUSKERS EARN SEASON-BEST 197.150 AT AMERITAS MASTERS CLASSIC

The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team notched a season-high 197.150 to place second at the Ameritas Masters Classic at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday night. The Big Red was supported by a crowd of 3,842 on Senior Night, the most attendees this season.

Emma Spence claimed the floor title with a career-high 9.950 and placed second in the all-around with a season-high 39.550.

The Huskers’ vault score of 49.225 and floor score of 49.450 both tied the team’s season highs.

Along with Spence’s career high on floor, Csenge Bácskay notched a career-best of 9.850 on beam. Isabel Sikon tied her career-high 9.850 on vault, and Whitney Jencks notched a career-best 9.850 on floor.

Florida took first place with a 197.700, NU was second with its 197.150, Lindenwood was third with 196.325, and Eastern Michigan was fourth with a 193.600.

Rotation One
Nebraska kicked off the evening on vault, registering a team score of 49.225 that tied its season best. Martina Comin led the Huskers on Senior Night with a score of 9.875, while Sikon and Spence followed her with a 9.850 apiece – Sikon’s tied her career high. Davis and Ayzhia Hall both notched a 9.825, with Davis’ tying her season high, and Bácskay rounded out the rotation with a 9.750.

Rotation Two
The Big Red continued the night with a solid 49.325 on bars. Davis and Spence both recorded a 9.900, and Clara Colombo earned a 9.875 to tie her season high. Whitney Jencks scored a 9.850, and Emma Simpton (9.800) and Bácskay finished out the lineup (9.775).

Rotation Three
Behind 9.850 scores from Sophia McClelland, Spence and Bácskay, the Huskers notched a 49.150 on beam. Bácskay’s marked a career high, while Spence’s was a season high. Allie Gard followed them with a 9.825, and Sikon (9.775) and Hall (9.550) rounded out the lineup.

Rotation Four
NU concluded the night on floor, posting a strong 49.450 to tie its season-high score in the event. Spence led the team with a career-high 9.950, which also won the event title. McClelland followed closely with a 9.900, and Halle Rourke and Bácskay each earned a 9.875. Jencks tied her career high with a 9.850, and Comin rounded out the event with a 9.775.

Up Next
The Big Red will hit the road to take on No. 12 Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday, March 15. The meet is slated to start at 7 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on SEC Network+.

HUSKER MEN AND WOMEN FINISH TOP-25 AT NCAAS

Nebraska track and field secured top-25 finishes on the men’s and women’s side at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Boston, Mass. on Saturday. Out of 12 Husker entries, eight earned First-Team All-America honors by placing in the top eight.

A day after becoming the first Husker to become a long jump First-Team All-American in the last decade, Till Steinforth recorded his highest-career NCAA finish in the heptathlon. With a total of 6140 points, Steinforth placed third. On Saturday, he clocked an 8.03 in the 60m hurdles, cleared 16-7 ¼ (5.06m) in the pole vault and ran a 2:50.42 in the 1000m. The last Husker to place third or higher in the heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships was Björn Barrefors in 2009. Last season, Steinforth placed fourth at the NCAA Championships in both the heptathlon and decathlon.

The Big Red added a pair of First-Team All-Americans in the high jump. Tyus Wilson equaled his personal-best height of 7-3 (2.21m) to claim fourth at his first indoor NCAA Championship meet. The junior made his NCAA debut during last season’s outdoor meet, taking fourth. Jenna Rogers became a four-time high jump First-Team All-American on Saturday, clearing 6-2 (1.88m) to tie for sixth. That was her third consecutive NCAA Indoor Championships placing in the top eight, with a fourth-place finish in 2023 and a seventh-place finish in 2022.

Rhianna Phipps provided a big final attempt in the triple jump, hitting a personal-best 44-7 (13.59m) to move up two spots and claim fifth. That mark was also the third-best jump in school history. Phipps has previously earned two Second-Team All-America honors, but this is her first time being named a First-Team All-American.

In the men’s triple jump, Micaylon Moore and Terrol Wilson made their NCAA Championship debuts. With a distance of 52-10 ¼ (16.11m), Moore secured First-Team All-American status with a seventh-place finish. He claimed his first Big Ten title in the triple jump two weeks ago. Wilson was named a Second-Team All-American, placing 13th with a 50-7 ½ (15.43m). At this season’s Big Ten Championships, Wilson was the triple jump bronze medalist. With both athletes reaching the Championship meet, Saturday became the first time two Husker men were named All-Americans in the triple jump.

In the women’s shot put, Mine De Klerk placed seventh with a 56-1 ¾ (17.11m) to earn her first First-Team All-America honor. De Klerk is in her first season competing for Nebraska after transferring from Oregon and is the reigning Big Ten Champion in the shot put. Kevin Shubert collected his second-career Second-Team All-America honor, placing 14th in the men’s shot put with a throw of 60-9 ½ (18.53m). Shubert’s last time at the NCAA Championships was during the 2021 indoor season, where he placed 16th in the shot put.

The Husker men tied for 12th with 17 points, while the women placed 25th with 8.5 points. Texas Tech won the men’s race with 50.5 points and Arkansas claimed the women’s title with 55 points.

With the indoor season coming to a close, Nebraska looks to the outdoor season beginning March 29-30 with the Florida Invitational and the Stanford Invitational.

HUSKERS TAKE FIFTH PLACE IN QUEEN'S CUP

The Nebraska beach volleyball team wrapped up the Queen's Cup at Queen's Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday.

The Huskers finished in fifth place in the tournament after losing to Pepperdine in the quarterfinals, 4-1, before rebounding with a 5-0 sweep of Chaminade.

Nebraska shuffled its lineup on Saturday with Merritt Beason teaming up with Harper Murray and Skyler Pierce joining Laney Choboy. Beason and Murray won their No. 3 match against Pepperdine, 21-17, 12-21, 15-6, to score a team point for the Big Red.

Against Chaminade, Beason and Murray made quick work of their No. 2 match, winning 21-8, 21-11. Lexi Rodriguez and Lindsay Krause played at No. 3 and won 21-8, 21-6, and Andi Jackson and Olivia Mauch clinched the winning team point with a 21-17, 21-16 in the No. 5 spot.

Ally Batenhorst and Bergen Reilly added a 15-21, 21-16, 15-11 comeback win in the No. 1 spot, and Choboy and Pierce also had a comeback win, 15-21, 21-14, 19-17.

At 10-7 on the season, the Huskers will travel to Hilo on Sunday for matches against Hawaii Hilo on Monday and Tuesday.


Pepperdine 4, Nebraska 1
1. Kate Clermont/McKenna Thomas (PEP) def. Ally Batenhorst/Bergen Reilly (NEB) 15-21, 21-14, 15-6
2. Madison Oriskovich/Kristine Briede (PEP) def. Lexi Rodriguez/Lindsay Krause (NEB) 21-18, 21-16
3. Merritt Beason/Harper Murray (NEB) def. Sarlota Svobodova/Gabriella Perez (PEP) 21-17, 12-21, 15-6
4. Kaydon Meyers/Gracie Pedersen (PEP) def. Skyler Pierce/Laney Choboy (NEB) 21-15, 14-21, 16-14
5. Emi Erickson/Aubrey Roberts (PEP) def. Andi Jackson/Olivia Mauch (NEB) 21-19, 16-21, 15-12
Order of finish: 2,1,3,5,4

Nebraska 5, Chaminade 0
1. Ally Batenhorst/Bergen Reilly (NEB) def. Greta Corti/Hula Crisostomo (CHA) 15-21, 21-16, 15-11
2. Merritt Beason/Harper Murray (NEB) def. Mahala Ka'apuni/Kanoelehua Misipeka (CHA) 21-8, 21-11
3. Lexi Rodriguez/Lindsay Krause (NEB) def. Malena Mihalik/DeLaney Poling (CHA) 21-8, 21-6
4. Laney Choboy/Skyler Pierce (NEB) def. Sophie Schilling/Elli Tsukano (CHA) 15-21, 21-14, 19-17
5. Olivia Mauch/Andi Jackson (NEB) def. Leilani Ama/Grace Talpash (CHA) 21-17, 21-16
Order of finish: 2,3,5,1,4

LOVETT ADVANCES TO FINALS, HUSKERS IN THIRD AFTER DAY ONE

College Park, Md. - Ridge Lovett advanced to the Big Ten Finals, and the Nebraska wrestling team is in third with 89 points at the 2024 Big Ten Championships.

Semifinals
In the 149 semis, No. 1 Lovett (149) faced Penn State’s No. 4 Tyler Kasak. Lovett used an escape and a third-period takedown to secure the 4-0 victory and a spot in Sunday’s finals. At 165, No. 5 Antrell Taylor wrestled Wisconsin’s No. 1 Dean Hamiti, and Hamiti got the pin in the first period sending Taylor to the consolation.

At 184, No. 2 Lenny Pinto met No. 3 Bernie Truax of Penn State in a rematch of the dual earlier this year. The two traded escapes before Truax got the takedown in Period Three to secure the 4-2 win. At 197, No. 4 Silas Allred fell to Penn State’s No. 1 Aaron Brooks by major decision, 14-2. Pinto and Allred will join the other Huskers in the consolation semifinals.

Consolation Quarterfinals
No. 4 Jacob Van Dee (133) defeated No. 10 Cayden Rooks of Indiana 11-6, No. 4 Brock Hardy (141) got the major decision over No. 10 Vance Vombaur of Minnesota 10-2, No. 5 Peyton Robb topped No. 9 Trevor Chumbley of Northwestern 5-0 and No. 10 Nash Hutmacher (HWT) defeated Maryland’s No. 5 Seth Nevills 7-0 as the group advanced to Sunday’s consolation semifinals.

Smith wrestled No. 1 Matt Ramos of Purdue and fell 5-2, and moved on to the 125 seventh-place match.

Consolation Second Round
Smith started off strong for the Huskers with an 8-2 decision over Indiana’s No. 14 Blaine Frazier at 125. Van Dee then got the top-10 victory at 133 with his 10-8 decision over Ohio State’s No. 3 Nic Bouzakis. Hardy defeated No. 11 Kall Miller of Maryland 5-3 before Robb earned the 15-0 tech. fall over No. 11 Al Desantis of Rutgers. Rounding out the group advancing was Hutmacher who faced Minnesota’s No. 8 Bennett Tabor and defeated him by major decision, 9-1.

No. 12 Bubba Wilson (184) scored an escape and reversal, but No. 6 Jackson Turley of Rutgers pinned Wilson in Period Three.

Quarterfinals
Lovett advanced to the semis at 149 with his second period pin over No. 8 Graham Rooks of Indiana. Taylor defeated No. 4 Caleb Fish of Michigan State in sudden victory and got the 8-5 decision. At 184, Pinto defeated No. 10 Roman Rogotzke of Indiana 14-7, and Allred topped Minnesota’s No. 5 Garrett Joles, 5-4 at 197.

No. 4 Patrick McKee of Minnesota defeated Smith 5-2 at 125. Van Dee then scored a last second takedown against Penn State’s No. 5 Aaron Nagao, but it wasn’t enough as Van Dee fell by decision, 4-3. Hardy battled No. 5 Sergio Lemley of Michigan, but fell 4-2, and Robb dropped his match to Iowa’s No. 4 Jared Franek 7-3.

Consolation First Round
After a loss in the first round, Wilson faced No. 13 DJ Shannon of Michigan State in consolation. Wilson secured the 7-3 victory and moved on.

First Round
Action for the Huskers started with Smith at 125 against Northwestern’s No. 12 Massey Odiotti where Smith secured the 24-8 tech. fall. Van Dee followed suit at 133 with a tech. fall against Northwestern’s No. 13 Patrick Adams. Hardy recorded a pin against Northwestern’s No. 13 Kolby McClain at 141, and Robb tech. falled Maryland’s No. 12 Michael North at 157.

At 165, Taylor defeated No. 12 Maxx Mayfield of Northwestern by decision, 7-2, and Allred got the tech. fall over No. 13 Bobby Striggow of Michigan at 197. Wilson and Hutmacher battled, but Wilson fell at 174 by major decision and Hutmacher lost by decision at heavyweight.

Wrestling resumes Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT) with the consolation semifinal and seventh-place matches, and championship bouts start at 3:30 p.m. (CT).

Big Ten Championships
XFINITY Center | College Park, Md.
Sessions 1 & 11
March 9, 2024

125: No. 5 Caleb Smith
First Round: No. 5 Caleb Smith (NEB) tech. fall No. 12 Massey Odiotti (NU) 24-8
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Patrick McKee (MINN) dec. No. 5 Caleb Smith (NEB) 5-2
Cons. Second Round: No. 5 Caleb Smith (NEB) dec. No. 14 Blaine Frazier (IND) 8-2
Cons. Quarterfinals: No. 1 Matt Ramos (PUR) dec. No. 5 Caleb Smith (NEB) 5-2
Seventh-Place Match: No. 5 Caleb Smith (NEB) vs. No. 3 Eric Barnett (WIS)

133: No. 4 Jacob Van Dee
First Round: No. 4 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) tech. fall No. 13 Patrick Adams (NU) 21-5
Quarterfinals: No. 5 Aaron Nagao (PSU) dec. No. 4 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) 4-3
Cons. Second Round: No. 4 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) dec. No. 3 Nic Bouzakis (OSU) 10-8
Cons. Quarterfinals: No. 4 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) dec. No. 10 Cayden Rooks (IND) 11-6
Cons. Semifinals: No. 4 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) vs. No. 14 Brody Teske (IOWA)

141: No. 4 Brock Hardy
First Round: No. 4 Brock Hardy (NEB) pinned No. 13 Kolby McClain (NU) (1:48)
Quarterfinals: No. 5 Sergio Lemley (MICH) dec. No. 4 Brock Hardy (NEB) 4-2
Cons. Second Round: No. 4 Brock Hardy (NEB) dec. No. 11 Kal Miller (MD) 5-3
Cons. Quarterfinals: No. 4 Brock Hardy (NEB) major dec. No. 10 Vance Vombaur (MINN) 10-2
Cons. Semifinals: No. 4 Brock Hardy (NEB) vs. No. 3 Real Woods (IOWA)

149: No. 1 Ridge Lovett
First Round: BYE
Quarterfinals: No. 1 Ridge Lovett (NEB) pinned No. 8 Graham Rooks (IND) (3:57)
Semifinals: No. 1 Ridge Lovett (NEB) dec. No. 4 Tyler Kasak (PSU) 4-0
Finals: No. 1 Ridge Lovett (NEB) vs. No. 2 Austin Gomez (MICH)

157: No. 5 Peyton Robb
First Round: No. 5 Peyton Robb (NEB) tech. fall No. 12 Michael North (MD) 15-0
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Jared Franek (IOWA) dec. No. 5 Peyton Robb (NEB) 7-3
Cons. Second Round: No. 5 Peyton Robb (NEB) tech. fall No. 11 Al Desantis (RUT) 15-0
Cons. Quarterfinals: No. 5 Peyton Robb (NEB) dec. No. 9 Trevor Chumbley (NU) 5-0
Cons. Semifinals: No. 5 Peyton Robb (NEB) vs. No. 3 Brayton Lee (IND)

165: No. 5 Antrell Taylor
First Round: No. 5 Antrell Taylor (NEB) dec. No. 12 Maxx Mayfield (NU) 7-2
Quarterfinals: No. 5 Antrell Taylor (NEB) dec. No. 4 Caleb Fish (MSU) 8-5 SV-1
Semifinals: No. 1 Dean Hamiti (WIS) pinned No. 5 Antrell Taylor (NEB) (1:04)
Cons. Semifinals: No. 5 Antrell Taylor (NEB) vs. No. 6 Cameron Amine (MICH)

174: No. 12 Bubba Wilson DNP (1-2)
First Round: No. 5 Rocco Welsh (OSU) major dec. No. 12 Bubba Wilson (NEB) 14-4
Cons. First Round: No. 12 Bubba Wilson (NEB) dec. No. 13 DJ Shannon (MSU) 7-3
Cons. Second Round: No. 6 Jackson Turley (RUT) pinned No. 12 Bubba Wilson (NEB)

184: No. 2 Lenny Pinto
First Round: BYE
Quarterfinals: No. 2 Lenny Pinto (NEB) dec. No. 10 Roman Rogotzke (IND) 14-7
Semifinals: No. 3 Bernie Truax (PSU) dec. No. 2 Lenny Pinto (NEB) 4-2
Cons. Semifinals: No. 2 Lenny Pinto (NEB) vs. No. 4 Ryder Rogotzke (OSU)

197: No. 4 Silas Allred
First Round: No. 4 Silas Allred (NEB) tech. fall No. 13 Bobby Striggow (MICH) 19-4
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Silas Allred (NEB) dec. No. 5 Garrett Joles (MINN) 5-4
Semifinals: No. 1 Aaron Brooks (PSU) major dec. No. 4 Silas Allred (NEB) 14-2
Cons. Semifinals: No. 4 Silas Allred (NEB) vs. No. 6 Luke Geog (OSU)

HWT: No. 10 Nash Hutmacher
First Round: No. 7 Bradley Hill (IOWA) dec. No. 10 Nash Hutmacher (NEB) 4-2
Cons. First Round: BYE
Cons. Second Round: No. 10 Nash Hutmacher (NEB) major dec. No. 8 Bennett Tabor (MINN) 9-1
Cons. Quarterfinals: No. 10 Nash Hutmacher (NEB) dec. No. 5 Seth Nevills (MD) 7-0
Cons. Semifinals: No. 10 Nash Hutmacher (NEB) vs. No. 3 Lucas Davison (MICH)

Team Score (Points):
1. Penn State (136.0)
2. Michigan (105.5)
3. Nebraska (89.0)
4. Iowa (88.5)
5. Ohio State (78.5)
6. Rutgers (71.5)
7. Minnesota (66.0)
8. Wisconsin (43.0)
9. Purdue (36.0)
10. Maryland (31.0)
11. Indiana (29.0)
12. Illinois (28.0)
13. Michigan State (19.5)
14. Northwestern (14.5)

GRAY, KINNEY POWER HUSKERS PAST JAGUARS

Sydney Gray homered twice and Kaylin Kinney tossed Nebraska's first complete game of the season as the Husker softball team won its final game at the Razorback Rumble with a 5-1 victory over South Alabama Saturday.

Gray, who went 3-for-4 with a double and two home runs, drove in three runs for Nebraska (11-11). Gray was the star at the plate while Kinney delivered the Huskers' best pitching performance of the season.

Kinney (7-6) scattered six hits and allowed only one run in a complete-game effort. She held South Alabama to a season-low one run, while earning her third victory of the weekend.

Madison Lagle (1-1) took the loss for South Alabama (13-7-1), allowing two runs in 2.0 innings. The Jagaurs, who own three victories over ranked opponents this season, threw three different pitchers at Nebraska's hitters and the Huskers scored against all three.

Nebraska scored all the runs Kinney would need with a two-run first inning. Brooke Andrews got things started with a one-out double. She scored on a two-out RBI single from Bella Bacon and Gray followed with an RBI double that brought Bacon home and gave Nebraska a 2-0 lead.

Gray then led off the fourth inning with a home run to stretch the Husker lead to 3-0.

South Alabama manufactured a run to trim the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth. A leadoff a walk eventually turned into a run on a sacrifice fly. The Jaguars went on to have runners at second and third before Kinney had a clutch strikeout to end the inning.

Nebraska immediately got the run back in the top of the sixth when Gray led off with her second home run of the game. Leading 4-1, Caitlynn Neal followed with a double and Katelyn Caneda singled and stole second to put Huskers on second and third with no outs. Alina Felix then scored Neal with an RBI fielder's choice to make it 5-1 After a strikeout, Billie Andrews was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out but the next two Huskers were retired.

Kinney then retired South Alabama in order in the sixth and seventh to wrap her seventh win of the season.

Nebraska returns home for a pair of games on Tuesday at Bowlin Stadium. The Huskers will take on Northern Colorado (Noon) and Maine (5 p.m.) in a pair of games that feature free admission after the games were just added to the schedule last week.

Post-Game Notes

Nebraska finished the Razorback Rumble with a 3-1 record.
The Huskers stole 11 bases in four games at the Razorback Rumble. Entering the weekend, Nebraska had stolen seven bases in its first 18 games of the season.
A total of seven Huskers hit .333 or better at the Razorback Rumble.
Kaylin Kinney tossed Nebraska's first complete game of the season. It was her fifth career complete game and first career 7.0-inning complete game.
Kinney pitched in three of Nebraska's four games at the Razorback Rumble, going 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA in 14.1 innings.
Sydney Gray went 3-for-3 with a double and two home runs. She set a career high with three extra-base hits and tied her career high with two home runs, the fourth two-homer game of her career.
Bella Bacon had an RBI in the first inning. She drove in a run in all four games of the Razorback Rumble, finishing the tournament with six RBIs.
Billie Andrews singled in the fifth inning to extend her hitting streak to 17 games.

HUSKERS FINISH EIGHTH AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Nebraska rifle team placed eighth at the 2024 NCAA Championships with a team score of 4,680.

Team captain Cecelia Ossi led the team with a sixth-place finish overall and a 1,184 aggregate score.

The Huskers competed in the air rifle event on Saturday, with Emma Rhode notching a 595 to lead NU and earn a 12th place finish. Ossi shot a 593, Charlie Mick posted a 588 and Mackenzie Strauch (587) and Camilla Johannessen (580) rounded out the lineup. The Big Red shot a 2,363 as a team.

TCU took the gold with a 4,732, and West Virginia (4,729) and Alaska-Fairbanks (4,719) finished second and third, respectively. Kentucky (4,718), Air Force (4,709), Navy (4,698), Ole Miss (4,693) and Nebraska (4,680) finished out the field.