Story by NU Athletic Communications
The Nebraska softball team completed its fall exhibition season with a doubleheader sweep of Colorado State on Sunday at Bowlin Stadium. The Huskers came from behind for a 4-3 walk-off victory in game one before jumping in front early and holding on for a 5-4 win in game two.
Jordy Bahl earned the win in both games, coming in for 2.0 innings of relief in game one and starting and pitching the first 4.0 innings of game two. Sarah Harness and Caitlin Olensky also saw action in the circle, combining to allow only one unearned run in 8.0 innings.
Offensively, Ava Bredwell went 3-for-7 with three RBIs in the doubleheader while Peyton Cody went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and Sydney Gray drove in two runs.
With its fall season complete, Nebraska will turn its attention to the 2024 season, which begins with four games at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Feb. 8-10.
Game 1: Nebraska 4, Colorado State 3Nebraska scored twice in the sixth inning and once in the seventh to rally for a 4-3 walk-off win in game one of the doubleheader.
Colorado State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. A leadoff walk, a stolen base, an error and a two-out RBI single plated the game’s first run.
Nebraska stranded a runner at second base in both the first and second innings before Brooke Andrews tied the game with a one-out solo home run in the bottom of the third inning.
The Huskers threatened in the bottom of the fourth when Malia Thoms walked with two outs and Ashley Smetter followed with a base hit, but NU was unable to score.
Nebraska stranded two more runners in the fifth before Colorado State took a 3-1 lead on Hailey Smith’s two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Nebraska loaded the bases with no outs on an error and consecutive singles from Caitlynn Neal and Bella Bacon. CSU responded with two straight outs before Ava Bredwell lined a clutch two-out, two-run single to right to tie the game at 3-3.
After the Rams were retired in order in the top of the seventh, Peyton Cody doubled off the wall in left on the first pitch of the bottom of the inning. On the very next pitch, Gray lined an RBI double off the wall in right to score pinch runner Alina Felix with the winning run.
Bredwell paced the Husker offense with a 2-for-4 day that included two RBIs. Andrews also had two hits – including her home run. In the circle, Jordy Bahl earned the win in relief, allowing two runs in two innings with three strikeouts. Sarah Harness started and was charged with just a single unearned run in 5.0 innings, and she struck out four batters.
Game 2: Nebraska 5, Colorado State 4Nebraska scored five runs in the first two inningsto take a 5-1 lead and then held on for a 5-4 victory to complete the doubleheader sweep and a perfect 4-0 weekend.
In the top of the first inning, two slow-rolling infield singles and an error loaded the bases for Colorado State with one out. Bahl responded with a strikeout before a bases-loaded walk brought in the game’s first run. A strikeout then prevented further damage.
Nebraska answered back in the bottom of the first. A one-out walk to Ava Bredwell was followed by a single from Bahl. Peyton Cody then lined an RBI single off the top of the wall in left center to tie the game. Sydney Gray gave Nebraska a 2-1 advantage with a sacrifice fly to left that scored Jordy Bahl.
The Huskers scored three more runs in the bottom of the second. The inning began with a Katelyn Caneda single followed by a walk to Bella Bacon. Samantha Bland then lined a 2-0 pitch to the gap in left center for an RBI single that stretched the Husker lead to 3-1. With runners on second and third and no outs, Colorado State made a pitching change and two batters later, Bredwell made it 4-1 with an RBI ground out that scored pinch runner Alina Felix. Bahl then lined a two-out RBI single to right to bring Bland home and push the lead to 5-1.
Colorado State got a run back in the top of the third on a single, a ground out that moved the runner to second base and an RBI single.
The Rams pulled to within 5-4 with a two-run fourth inning that featured two Husker errors.
Caitlin Olensky closed out the win with 3.0 innings of one-hit relief, and she struck out a pair of batters. Olensky earned the save in relief of Bahl, who allowed four runs (one earned) over the first 4.0 innings.
Offensively, Bahl, Caneda and Bland each finished 2-for-3 with Bahl and Bland adding one RBI each.