Nebraska Softball Walks Off #19 BYU, 5-4

Its spring sport season, and the Nebraska Softball team started the year out with a bang at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona. The Huskers completed a comeback to down the 19th ranked Brigham Young Cougars 5-4 in eight innings to kick off the 2018 season.

Olivia Ferrell got the start on the mound for the Huskers, throwing five innings in her college debut. The freshman from Omaha, Nebraska struck out four cougars, while allowing just two runs on four hits.

Nebraska took a lead after setting down the Cougars in order in the first. Gina Metzler singled and was replaced by Tristen Edwards on a fielders choice. After a Madi Unzicker walk, Kaylan Jablonski would double to drive in Edwards.

The game would see donuts for the next three innings, before Brigham Young took a lead on the Huskers in the fifth with a pair of runs. Nebraska would bring in Jablonski in the sixth, and the Cougars would add another run on three singles to go up by a pair.

After being set down in the sixth in order, Nebraska would rally in the seventh to force extra innings. Taylor Otte would walk with one out, to bring the tying run to the plate. After Metzler struck out, the Huskers were down to the final out. Singles from Unzicker, Edwards, and Jablonski would tie the game. A walk to Alyvia Simmons would load the bases for Laura Barrow who would ground into a force at second to send the game to extras.

In extra innings in softball, a runner is automatically put on second base with no one out. BYU would capitalize in the top half of the eighth, with a two out single to go ahead 4-3. Jablonski would prevent any additional damage with a groundout to end the inning.

In the Huskers half, Nebraska would answer the BYU run after Barrow was placed on second. Lexey Knieb attempted to sacrifice Barrow to third, but a wild throw would score Barrow. After a sac bunt, and a single, Metzler would strikeout looking for the second out. Edwards would line a single to right center to score Knieb and give the Huskers their first victory of 2018.

Nebraska Softball continues their opening weekend with another game tonight against Arizona State, who is ranked 23rd. The Huskers and Sun Devils are scheduled to take the field at 8:30 CST.