Story by NU Athletic Communications
On a night where Nebraska's pitchers impressed, it was a three-run blast from Emmerson Cope that powered the Scarlet team to a 4-0 win over the Cream team Thursday in the second of three fall scrimmages for the Husker softball team.
Cope not only drove in three of the game's four runs, she also contributed to the strong night for Nebraska's pitching staff. Cope finished 1-for-3 at the plate and tossed three scoreless innings in the circle to close out the game. She struck out two and did not walk a batter while scattering three hits, needing only 32 pitchers to get through her 3.0 innings.
Nebraska’s starting pitchers were effective and efficient. Sarah Harness was credited with the win, earning the start and pitching 4.0 perfect innings for the Scarlet with one strikeout. Jordy Bahl started for the Cream and allowed only one hit with five strikeouts in 4.0 innings, and each of the three runs she allowed were unearned. Combined, Harness and Bahl pitched 8.0 innings and allowed just one hit. Neither pitcher went to a three-ball count and Bahl threw just 43 pitches (33 strikes), while Harness needed only 45 pitches (31 strikes).
Offensively, freshmen had all four RBIs in the game. In addition to Cope's three RBIs, Samantha Bland drove in the fourth and final run for the Scarlet, which out-hit the Cream, 4-3.
The Scarlet team took advantage of a pair of Husker errors to grab a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The first three balls were all put in play – all ground balls to an infielder – but a pair of misplays put runners on first and third for Cope, who blasted the first pitch she saw well over the fence in left for a three-run homer.
The Cream team nearly found the scoreboard in the top of the fifth. Smetter led off with a single and a one-out single from Mckinley Malecha put runners at first and third with one out. But Cope – in her first inning in the circle – escaped the jam by coaxing a pair of ground outs.
The Scarlet then added to their lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Assistant coach Olivia Ferrell came on in the circle and walked a pair of batters ahead of Bland, who delivered an RBI single that scored Ava Bredwell and made it a 4-0 final.
Nebraska will host its final intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m.