The Nebraska softball team opened its first day at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a doubleheader against San Diego State and No. 19 UCLA. The Huskers fell in hard-fought games, losing to San Diego State 3-2 then 9-8 to UCLA.
In the loss to the Aztecs, Nebraska held a one-run lead twice but struggled to pull away, going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Peyton Cody led the Huskers in the batter’s box, going 2-for-3 and hitting a home run.
Freshman Emmerson Cope also drove in a run for Nebraska, putting it on the board in the second inning. Cope also started in the circle and pitched for 3.1 innings, giving up one run. Sarah Harness pitched 1.1 innings and allowed one run.
In the loss to UCLA, the Huskers fumbled an 8-4 lead to the Bruins in the seventh, after holding UCLA went up 4-1 in the first. Billie Andrews powered Nebraska’s bats, hitting 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs, two RBIs and three runs scored. Freshman Samantha Bland doubled twice and drove in two runs, while Cody hit 1-for-2 with an RBI double.
Freshman Caitlin Olensky started in the circle for the Huskers and allowed four runs in 1.0 inning. Harness followed Olensky and pitched the next 2.0 innings allowing zero runs. Kaylin Kinney threw 3.1 innings of relief and was charged with five runs. She pitched 3.0 scoreless innings of relief heading into the seventh inning.
The Huskers fall to 6-5 with the loss and will play No. 23 Oregon Saturday for the second day of the tournament. The first pitch is at noon and can be viewed on FloSoftball.