NU Nearly Upsets #23 Michigan

A superb outing from senior right-hander Olivia Ferrell wasn't quite enough for the Nebraska softball team Thursday afternoon, as the Huskers dropped game one of their doubleheader with No. 23 Michigan 2-1 in eight innings at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Fla.
 
Ferrell (1-4) allowed only one earned run and just three hits in a career-high 7.2 innings, but the Nebraska offense was stymied by Michigan left-hander Meghan Beaubien, the reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Week. Beaubien (3-1) tossed a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts, and the lone run she allowed was unearned.

Nebraska (3-4) managed only four walks against Beaubien, but still the Huskers had the tying run on third base and the winning run at second base in the bottom of the eighth inning before Michigan (5-2) escaped with the win.
 
Through the first five innings, the teams combined to produce only one hit – a Michigan single – and five base runners, two of whom reached on errors and two more who found their way on via walks.
 
But in the top of the sixth, Michigan used its second hit of the game to open the scoring. Natalia Rodriguez, the Michigan No. 9 hitter, led off with a walk. She stole second, moved to third on a ground out and came home on a bloop single to shallow right field off the bat of Julia Jimenez.
 
Nebraska answered with a two-out rally keyed by a Michigan error in the bottom of the frame. The first two Huskers were retired before senior Tristen Edwards drew a two-out walk and stole second base. Senior Cam Ybarra then hit a ground ball to first, where Michigan first baseman Taylor Bump booted the ball, allowing Edwards to score. With the game tied 1-1, junior Peyton Glatter walked, moving freshman pinch runner Camyl Armendariz into scoring position before Beaubien prevented any further damage with her 12th strikeout of the game.
 
Michigan got its leadoff runner on again to start the seventh, when Hannah Carson was hit by a pitch. But a pop out, a force out at second and a caught stealing ended the inning.
 
After Nebraska went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Michigan began the top of the eighth with a runner – Haley Hoogenraad – on second base in accordance with the tiebreaker rule. A ground out moved Hoogenraad to third base with one out, before Ferrell struck out the next batter. But Lexie Blair delivered a clutch two-out, RBI double to right center to plate the go-ahead run. A walk put Wolverines on first and second and marked the end of the day for Ferrell. Freshman Kaylin Kinney entered the game and kept it a one-run game with a bases-loaded strikeout following an intentional walk.

Freshman Sydney Gray was placed on second to begin the bottom of the eighth, and she moved to third on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt from senior Rylie Unzicker. Beaubien then won a long battle against freshman Billie Andrews with a strikeout before Michigan elected to intentionally walk Edwards. Edwards stole second on the next pitch to put Huskers on second and third with two outs, but a foul out ended the Huskers' upset bid.