Nebraska’s offense scattered double-digit hits for the third straight game, as the Huskers held on to an 8-6 victory over against Wichita State at Eck Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Huskers improved to 7-1 on the road and have now won seven of their last eight games overall.

Nebraska (10-4) scored eight runs on 11 hits, while Wichita State (9-6) had six runs on 10 hits with a trio of errors.

Cole Evans went 4-for-5 at the plate with a double and RBI, becoming the second Husker this season to post four or more hits in a game. Tyler Stone slugged his third homer across his last five games, while Ben Columbus went 2-for-3 with a double and two walks, matching a career-high with three RBI.

Clay Bradford reached in three of his five plate appearances with Rhett Stokes contributing a hit in the leadoff spot.

Will Walsh delivered a quality start for the Huskers, the fifth of his career, allowing three earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts across six innings of work. It was the Leawood, Kan. native’s longest outing since his complete game in the Big Ten Tournament last season against Michigan State.

Evan Borst struck out four of seven batters faced despite allowing a pair of runs, while Casey Daiss tossed the final 1.1 innings to secure his team-leading third save of the season.

Wichita State struck first after Walsh hit a pair of batters, setting the table for an RBI from Dayvin Johnson to put the Shockers up by a run. The southpaw worked himself out of trouble in the opening frame, stranding runners on the corners to limit the damage.

Bradford began the second inning with a double down the left-field line, his third extra-base hit of the season. However, Wichita State starter Brady Hamilton punched out the next two batters and left two men on base for the second consecutive inning. 

The Husker offense came to life in the third inning as Evans’ one-out single set the table for Stone’s two-run blast to put NU up, 2-1. Stone now has hits each of his last 10 starts, going 15-for-43 (.349) over that stretch with three doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI.

Anglim and Bradford continued the Husker rally with consecutive singles before being driven in by Columbus’ two-run single to give Nebraska a 4-1 lead. The senior became the seventh Husker this season with multiple RBI in two-out situations.

In the fourth inning, NU put up its second-straight crooked number to grow its lead after a throwing error and RBI sacrifice fly from Anglim put the Big Red up by five runs. 

Three straight free passes loaded the bases and eventually plated a run on Columbus’ full-count walk as Nebraska’s lead ballooned to 7-1 in the fourth inning. 

Walsh settled in on the mound, retiring 12 of his next 14 batters faced after surrendering a run in the opening frame. The left-hander ran into trouble in the sixth inning, allowing a two-run home run but induced a double-play ball to keep the Huskers ahead 7-3.

NU tacked on another run in the top of the seventh, as Dylan Hufft drew a leadoff work and swiped second base. Following two quick outs, Evans tallied his third hit of the ballgame to bring home the sophomore and extend the Big Red advantage back to five runs.

Borst made his fourth relief appearance of the season, striking out a pair in the seventh and eighth inning, but exited after allowing runners to reach second and third. Jackson Brockett entered the game and surrendered three straight hits to allow the Shockers to cut the deficit to 8-6.

However, Daiss recorded the final out in the eighth inning and worked around a two-out single in the ninth to shut down the Wichita State comeback attempt.

Nebraska and Wichita State wrap up a quick two-game set tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. CT at Eck Stadium. Wednesday’s matchup can be seen on ESPN+, while fans can listen to Dave Gustafson and Ben McLaughlin call the action on the Huskers Radio Network.

HUSKERS WRAP UP PLAY IN HAWAII WITH SWEEP OF HILO

The Nebraska beach volleyball team wrapped up its trip to Hawaii with a 5-0 sweep over Hawaii Hilo on Tuesday. 

The Huskers (13-7) have won four straight matches heading into the final seven matches of the season, which will take place Thursday-Saturday in California. 

Four of the five Husker pairs won in straight sets against the Vulcans on Tuesday. Lindsay Krause and Lexi Rodriguez started the match with a 21-16, 21-18 win, and Ally Batenhorst and Bergen Reilly earned a 21-16, 21-12 victory. Laney Choboy and Skyler Pierce were 21-12, 21-10 winners as NU's No. 4 pair, clinching the match for the Big Red. Andi Jackson and Olivia Mauch posted a 21-2, 21-9 win, and Merritt Beason and Harper Murray capped off the night with a 21-15, 19-21, 15-11 win.

The Big Red is back in action on Thursday with three matches at Grossmont College in San Diego, Calif., against Grossmont, Feather River and San Diego Mesa. 

Nebraska 5, Hawaii Hilo 0
1. Ally Batenhorst/Bergen Reilly W, 21-16, 21-12
2. Lindsay Krause/Lexi Rodriguez W, 21-16, 21-18
3. Merritt Beason/Harper Murray 21-15, 19-21, 15-11
4. Laney Choboy/Skyler Pierce W, 21-12, 21-10
5. Andi Jackson/Olivia Mauch W, 21-2, 21-9
Exh. Maisie Boesiger/Kyla Kenney L, 20-22, 19-21

HUSKERS FALL 5-3 IN FIRST GAME TUESDAY

The Nebraska softball team was unable to come up with the clutch hit it needed in a 5-3 loss to Northern Colorado Tuesday afternoon at Bowlin Stadium.

The Huskers stranded 10 base runners in the game and were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and 0-for-4 with the bases loaded. Nebraska had a base runner in every inning but one with multiple base runners in five of its seven innings.

Nebraska was also just 2-for-15 with runners on base with one of those two hits being a two-run homer from Billie Andrews. Andrews finished 2-for-4 to extend her hitting streak to 18 games. Kaylin Kinney also had two hits for the Big Red, while Bella Bacon added Nebraska's other RBI.

Kinney (7-7) took the loss for Nebraska, allowing four runs in 4.0 innings. Caitlin Olensky pitched the final 3.0 innings and gave up only one run. 

Isabelle DiNapoli (4-4) earned the win, allowing three runs (two earned) in 5.0 innings. Erin Caviness picked up her first save with 2.0 scoreless innings of relief.

In the bottom of the first, Nebraska loaded the bases with one out on a double from Brooke Andrews, a walk to Sydney Gray and a Northern Colorado error. Bacon then hit a ground ball to first and Northern Colorado threw home but was unable to get Andrews who scored the game's first run. Leading 1-0, Nebraska still had the bases loaded with one out but a strikeout and a lineout ended the inning.

In the top of the third, Northern Colorado loaded the bases with no outs. A sacrifice fly tied the game at 1-1. A two-out, two-run single then gave the Bears a 3-1 lead.

The Bears loaded the bases with no outs again in the top of the fifth. An RBI single stretched the lead to 4-1 before Olensky retired the next three batters to prevent further damage.

In the bottom of the inning Gray singled to lead off and Ava Bredwell followed with a walk. Bacon then hit the ball hard but lined into a double play. The next two Huskers reached to load the bases with two outs but a fly out ended the inning.

Northern Colorado then used three singles in a span of four batters to take a 5-1 lead in the top of the sixth. 

In the bottom of the inning, Kinney led off with a single before Billie Andrews launched a two-run homer to left to cut the lead to 5-3. 

Both teams were then retired in order in the seventh inning.

Nebraska plays again Tuesday at approximately 5 p.m. against Maine

Post-Game Notes

• Brooke Andrews doubled in the first inning to extend her hitting streak to eight games. 
• Bella Bacon drove in a run in the first inning to extend her streak to five consecutive games with an RBI, the longest streak by a Husker this season.
• Billie Andrews singled in the fourth inning to extend her hitting streak to 18 games.
• Billie Andrews also homered in the sixth inning. The home run was the 51st of her career, three shy of tying the school record.

STRAND TIES FOR 11TH AT BRIAR'S CREEK

Kelly Ann Strand shot a one-under-par 71 in the final round to climb into a tie for 11th on the individual leader board on the closing day of the Briar's Creek Challenge in Johns Island, S.C.

Strand ended the 54-hole event with an even-par 216 (71-74-71) over three rounds on the par-72, 6,152-yard layout of the Briar's Creek Golf Club. The sophomore from Challis, Idaho finished five strokes behind a quartet of golfers who tied for the top spot at 211 (-5), including Michigan State's Katie Lu and Brooke Biermann, NC State's Lauren Olivares Leon and Isabel Sy from Illinois.

With Strand leading the way, the Huskers moved up one spot in the team standings during the final round to tie for 10th in a 17-team field filled with top-100 women's golf programs.

Miu Takahashi added a strong round with a 73 (+1) to finish the tournament in a tie for 29th in a 104-player field. The junior from Nasu-Machi, Japan closed with a three-round total of 221 (+5).

Senior Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo, Neb.) contributed to Nebraska's 294 (+6) team score in the final round with a 74 (+2), wrapping up the tournament in a tie for 67th at 229 (+13).

Fellow senior Michaela Vavrova (Bojnice, Slovakia) completed NU's score with a 76 (+4) to match Thiele in a tie for 67th at 229.

Freshman Arden Louchheim rounded out the Husker lineup with a final-round 78, closing the tournament in a tie for 80th at 231 (+15). Redshirt sophomore Brooke Bream, who was playing as an individual outside the Husker lineup, produced a 77 on Tuesday to tie for 95th at 238.

The Huskers will remain on the East Coast this week, traveling to the Florida State Match Up in Tallahassee. The three-day tournament opens on Friday, March 15 with tee times at 8 a.m. (CT). Live scoring will be available on Huskers.com through GolfStat.

Briar's Creek Challenge
March 11-12, 2024
Johns Island, South Carolina
Briar's Creek Golf Club (Par 72, 6,152 Yards)

Final Team Standings
1. Michigan State - 284-282-294=860 (-4)
2. NC State - 291-293-281=865 (+1)
3. Purdue - 294-293-284=871 (+7)
T4. Illinois - 284-288-301=873 (+9)
T4. UCF - 301-281-291=873 (+9)
6. Florida - 290-293-292=875 (+11)
7. Miami - 294-298-284=876 (+12)
8. Rutgers - 291-290-297=878 (+14)
9. College of Charleston - 305-293-289=887 (+23)
T10. Nebraska - 296-298-294=888 (+24)
T10 Maryland - 299-300-289=888 (+24)
12. Campbell - 285-306-299=890 (+26)
13. Boston College - 294-292-307=893 (+29)
14. Georgetown - 293-302-301=896 (+32)
15. Penn State - 305-296-297=898 (+34)
16. Wisconsin - 299-304-298=901 (+37)
17. Old Dominion - 297-309-315=921 (+57)

Final Individual Standings
T1. Lauren Olivares Leon, NC State - 74-69-68=211 (-5)
T1. Brooke Biermann, Michigan State - 68-70-73=211 (-5)
T1. Isabel Sy, Illinois - 67-70-74=211 (-5)
T1. Katie Lu, Michigan State - 69-67-75=211 (-5)
5. Ashley Kozlowski, Purdue - 73-72-67=212 (-4)
6. Jess Baker, UCF - 75-70-68=213 (-3)
T7. Momo Sugiyama, Purdue - 74-71-70-215 (-1)
T7. Leila Raines, Michigan State - 73-71-71=215 (-1)
T7. Pimpisa Sisutham, UCF - 74-68-73=215 (-1)
T7. Ines Archer, Florida - 70-70-75=215 (-1)
T11. Emma Schimpf, College of Charleston - 80-66-70=216 (E)
T11. Kelli Ann Strand, Nebraska - 71-74-71=216 (E)

Nebraska Individuals
T11. Kelli Ann Strand - 71-74-71=216 (E)
T29. Miu Takahashi - 74-74-73=221 (+5)
T67. Lindsey Thiele - 80-75-74=229(+13)
T67. Michaela Vavrova - 73-80-76=229 (+13)
T80. Arden Louchheim - 78-75-78=231 (+15)
*T95. Brooke Bream - 85-76-77=238 (+22)

* competing as an individual outside Nebraska's lineup

MYERS, MURRAY TAKE TOP 20 FINISHES AT JOHNNIE-O

Hamish Murray and Evan Myers both earned top-20 individual finishes to lead the Nebraska men’s golf team to a ninth-place team finish at at the Johnnie-O at Sea Island, in St. Simons Island, Ga., on Tuesday. 

Murray, a junior from Sydney Australia, posted an even-par 72 in the final round on the 7,060-yard layout at the Sea Island Golf Course to capture his fifth top-25 finish in seven tournaments this season with a 54-hole score 214 (-2) to tie for 19th.

Myers added a final-round 73 (+1) to match Murray with a three-round total of 214 (-2) in a tie for 19th. Myers equaled the best 54-hole score of his career, which he also shot  at the Bosque River Classic, Sept. 21, 2021.

Harry Crockett, a junior from Oxted, England, managed a subpar round at 71 (-1)  to finish with an even-par 216 over three rounds. He finished in 34th overall. 

Davis Johnson rounded out Nebraska's team score on Tuesday with his final-round 75 (+3). He closed the tournament in a tie for 58th at 222, while freshman Quinn Yost completed the Husker contingent in a tie for 76th (227).

The Huskers totaled 291 (+3). The Huskers took ninth in the 14-team field at 862 (-2), one shot ahead of Kansas. The Big Red also notched wins over Minnesota, Penn State, Kansas State and Marquette, while finishing just two strokes behind Illinois.

Notre Dame (832) won the title at 32-under-par, 10 strokes ahead of runner-up Texas (842). Notre Dame's Jacob Medleski shared medalist honors with Michigan State's Ashton McCulloch at 204 (-12).

NU will take several weeks off from competition before traveling to Florida for the Calusa Cup (April 7-9). Live updates and scoring can be found at HuskersGolf on Instagram and X, and Golfstat.com. Complete tournament coverage will be available on Huskers.com. 

The Johnnie-O at Sea Island
March 11-12, 2024
St. Simons Island, Georgia
Sea Island Golf Club (Par 72, 7,060 Yards)

Final Team Standings 
1. Notre Dame - 287-270-275=832 (-32)
2. Texas - 287-276-279=842 (-22)
3. Michigan State - 287-276-280=843 (-21)
4. UNCG - 283-284-286=853 (-11)
5. Augusta - 295-284-275=854 (-10)
6. Cincinnati - 278-284-294=856 (-8)
7. Rutgers - 290-282-285=857(-7)
8. Illinois - 282-289-290=860 (-4)
9. Nebraska - 282-289-291=862 (-2)
10. Kansas - 291-287-285=863 (-1)
11. Minnesota - 285-291-288=864 (E)
12. Marquette - 291-296-285=872 (+8)
T13. Kansas State - 297-287-290=874 (+10)
T13. Penn State - 292-288=294=874 (+10)

Final Individual Standings
T1. Jacob Modleski, Notre Dame - 72-67-65=204 (-12)
T1. Ashton McCulloch, Michigan State - 68-62-74=204 (-12)
3. Palmer Jackson, Notre Dame - 69-65-72=206 (-10)
T4. Ben Warian, Minnesota - 70-70-68=208 (-8)
T4. Christiaan Maas, Texas - 69-68-71=208 (-8)
T6. Drew Hackett, Michigan State - 74-70-65=209 (-7)
T6. *Christopher Bagnall, Notre Dame - 70-68-71=209 (-7)
T8. Cole Stevens, Augusta - 73-71-66=210 (-6)
T8. Nate Stevens, Notre Dame - 74-68-68=210 (-6)
T8. Noah Connor, UNGC - 72-69-69=210 (-6)
T8. Connor McNeely, Cincinnati - 68-70-72=210 (-6)

Nebraska Individuals
T19. Hamish Murray - 73-69-72=214 (-2)
T19. Evan Myers - 68-73-73=214 (-2)
34. Harry Crockett - 70-75-71=216 (E)
T58. Davis Johnson - 75-72-75=222 (+6)
T76. Quinn Yost - 71-76-80=227 (+15)