Huskers Take Series With 5-3 Win Over Jayhawks

The Nebraska softball team (8-5) claimed the series over Kansas (7-6) with 5-3 win over the Jayhawks Monday afternoon.

Home runs from sophomores Billie Andrews and Sydney Gray sparked Nebraska's offense accounting for three of the five runs. RBI hits from Mya Felder and Olivia Ferrell helped secure the win for the Huskers. 

In the circle, Olivia Ferrell (3-2) recorded the win, pitching 5.1 innings, striking out three and allowing five hits. Courtney Wallace earned the save, pitching 1.2 innings and allowing three hits. 

For the Jayhawks, Olivia Bruno (2-1) recorded the loss. Bruno pitched 5.0 inning, giving up six hits and three runs. 

The Huskers put runners in scoring position in the top of the second inning, but were unable to capitalize on it. Mya Felder led off with a single to right field. Olivia Ferrell followed with a pop up for the first out of the inning. Abbie Squier was walked, moving Felder to second. Courtney Wallace hit a single through the left side to load the bases. Anni Raley reached on a fielder's choice, however, Felder was out at home. Brooke Andrews ended the inning with the bases loaded after a fly out to left field. 

The Jayhawks got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning. Lyric Moore led off for KU with a triple to right center field. Savanna DesRochers followed up with a single up the middle, scoring Moore to put the Jayhawks up, 1-0. Cheyenne Hornbuckle reached on a fielder's choice, but the Huskers were able to record the first out at second. Haleigh Harper put down a sacrifice bunt to put Hornbuckle at second, but Shayna Espy was not able to take advantage of a runner in scoring position, popping up for the third out of the inning. Kansas went into the third inning ahead, 1-0. 

Billie Andrews made it an even game with a lead off homer over the left field fence in the top of the third inning. Cam Ybarra followed with a fly out while Sydney Gray grounded out. With two outs, Mya Felder hit a single down the left field line, but Olivia Ferrell was not able to capitalize, popping up to end the inning. The Huskers went into the bottom of the third inning tied 1-1. 

NU extended their lead in the top of the fifth inning. Brooke Andrews led off the inning with a hard hit ball to the shortstop. Billie Andrews followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Brooke Andrews to second. Ybarra struck out for the second out of the inning. Sydney Gray smashed the ball over the center field fence for a two-run homer, putting the Huskers up 3-1. Felder ended the inning with a ground ball to second base. 

Kansas responded in the bottom of the sixth. Ashlyn Anderson led off, fouling out. Shelby Gayre hit a homer over the left field fence to make it a 3-2 game. Courtney Wallace came in for Ferrell in the circle with no one on base and one out. Bruno grounded out to first base for the second out of the inning. Moore got on base with a single to right field while DesRochers put Moore in scoring position with a hard hit single through the left side of the field. Hornbuckle grounded out to Wallace to end the inning. NU went into the final inning ahead, 3-2.

The Big Red added two more in the top of the seventh. Billie Andrews reached first on an infield single and advanced to second when Cam Ybarra had a hard hit single to second base. Sydney Gray was walked to load the bases. Mya Felder grounded out, adding an RBI and scoring Billie Andrews. Olivia Ferrell followed by grounding out, but scoring Bredwell (who was pinch running for Ybarra) for another RBI. Squier struck out, but the Huskers went into the bottom of the seventh ahead, 5-2. 

The Jayhawks got into scoring position after a walk and a passed ball but Harper on second. Shayna Espy walked to put two runners on but Macy Omli grounded into a double play. With Harper on third, Anderson hit a double to right center field, scoring Harper. Gayre popped up to end the game. NU claimed the win, 5-3. 

The Huskers return to action this Friday, March 4 at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., against Wichita State. The game is set to start at 5 p.m. and will be broadcasted live on the Huskers Radio Network with the call from Nate Rohr and Mattie Fowler Burkhardt. Tickets are available at Huskers.com/Tickets.