Huskers Maul Grizzles to Conclude Fall Season

Lincoln, Neb. -- The Nebraska softball team trounced the Butler Grizzlies in its fall season finale Thursday night 14-2. Led by Tristen Edwards, the Husker offense was on fire, totaling 13 hits. Edwards went 4-for-4 on the night, scored three runs and had two RBIs. Taylor Otte and Kaylan Jablonski each had two hits, while five additional Huskers had one hit on the night. 

All five Husker pitchers threw two innings and as a group, allowed just one earned run. Olivia Ferrell and Sydney McLeod only gave up one hit. Regan Mergele and Caitlin Bartsch allowed two, while Jablonski gave up three hits and had five strikeouts. Bartsch recorded three strikeouts and Mergele had two. 

In the first inning, the Grizzlies loaded the bases after two hits and a hit batter. The next batter grounded out to first base, but scored one run. Butler loaded the bases again after a walk, but Mergele and the Husker defense got out of the inning without allowing another run. 

The Huskers responded in the bottom of the second. Tristen Edwards started the inning with a triple down the right field line and Jablonski was walked. With runners on the corners and Madi Unzicker up to bat, Jablonski stole second to put runners on second and third. Unzicker doubled to center field to bring both runners home. Bree Boruff pinch ran for Unzicker and advanced to third after Lexey Kneib grounded out to first. Ally Riley grounded out to first but scored Boruff to give the Huskers a 3-1 lead heading into the third.

In the third, Alyvia Simmons advanced to second on a fielding error and Edwards was walked. Jablonski singled and scored one run. The Huskers tacked on another run when Jablonski tried to steal second and was caught in a run down long enough for Edwards to score from third. 

The Grizzlies scored one run in the top of the fifth. They loaded the bases with a single, an error and a walk and brought one run in with a sacrifice fly. 

The Big Red scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Boruff singled. With Rylie Unzicker at the plate, Boruff stole second. Unzicker walked and Otte pinch ran for Unzicker. Barrow doubled to left center to score Boruff. One batter later, Austin Urness grounded out to shortstop, but scored Otte. Edwards doubled up the middle to score another run to give NU a 8-2 lead. 

The Huskers brought in a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. Rindy Bryant singled up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Boruff was walked and with two runners on, Taylor Otte doubled to extend the lead 10-2.

The Husker offense did not let up, scoring an additional four runs in the bottom of the ninth with the help of several errors by the Butler defense. An error and a single put runners on second and third for Nebraska. Another fielding error by Butler scored one run and put runners on the corners. Edwards then singled and advanced to second, scoring one run and advancing the runner to third. Jablonski singled again and scored two additional runs. 

This concludes Nebraska's fall season. The Huskers will begin the spring season on Feb. 9-11 at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.