No. 8 Hokies Score Late to Top Huskers

The Nebraska softball team (4-4) was tied with No. 8 Virginia Tech after four innings on Friday, but solo home runs in the fifth and the seventh powered the Hokies to a 6-4 victory at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational in Clearwater, Fla.  

Trailing by two, the Huskers rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning by getting the tying runs on base and bringing the game-winning run to the plate. NU strung together two consecutive two-out singles, putting runners on first and second before Virginia Tech closed out the victory to move to 6-1 on the season.

In the circle, Courtney Wallace (3-2) recorded the loss. Wallace pitched 4.0 innings, giving up eight hits and five runs, although only two of her runs were earned. Kaylin Kinney finished the game, pitching the final three innings and holding the Hokies to two hits and one run. 

Emma Lemley, the reigning ACC Freshman of the Year, earned the win and moved to 3-0 on the season after pitching the complete game for Virginia Tech. Lemley, who entered the game with 12.0 scoreless innings to start her season, recorded five strikeouts while giving up four runs and 10 hits. 

On offense, Mya Felder and Ava Bredwell led NU, each recording two hits while Billie Andrews and Caitlynn Neal each added a home run and two RBIs. 

Cameron Fagan led the Hokies offensively. The junior finished 3-for-4 on the night with two runs. 

Virginia Tech took an early 2-0 lead after the first inning. A one-out single preceded a pair of Husker miscues. The single was followed by a throwing error on a ground ball back to the pitcher, which plated the game's first run and left a Hokie on third base. Two batters later, another error led to Virginia Tech's second run.

Billie Andrews responded in the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer to left field. After one out, Mya Felder and Ava Bredwell each recorded singles, but NU was unable to add more. Virginia Tech held a 2-1 lead after one inning of play.

The Hokies added another run in the top of the third after a solo shot from Bre Peck to extend the lead to 3-1. 

In the top of the fourth with two outs, Virginia Tech produced three consecutive singles to tack on another run and make it 4-1.

The Huskers tied it up in the bottom of the frame, scoring three times. Bredwell led off the inning with a single to center field and Caitlynn Neal followed the single with a two-run home run to right. With one out, Abbie Squier singled to left field and Katelyn Caneda singled to right field. Billie Andrews came through with sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Squier, and tying the game at 4-4. 

Kelsey Bennett helped the Hokies regain the lead with a solo homer in the top of the fifth. Kinney entered the game for the Huskers following the leadoff home run and kept the Virginia Tech offense at bay until Madison Hanson's seventh-inning solo home run, which gave the Hokies a 7-5 lead.

The Huskers had a chance to win with a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh. After the firs two batters were retired, singles from Wallace and Mya Felder put the tying runners on base. With the winning run at the plate, Bredwell was unable to produce her third hit of the day as Virginia Tech held on for the win.

Bredwell finished 2-for-4, producing the lone multi-hit game for a Husker attack that saw eight players record a hit. Neal and Billie Andrews each homered and finished with two RBIs.

The Huskers return to action Saturday, Feb. 18, against Texas A&M. The game is set for 12:30 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required). Fans can listen to the action live on Huskers Radio Network and Huskers.com with the call from Nate Rohr. 

Game Notes

• Billie Andrews recorded her 30th career homer during the bottom of the first inning. 
• Andrews' home run marked the third time in eight games this season that she has homered in Nebraska's first at bat of the game.
• Caitlynn Neal smashed her first home run of the season with a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth inning.