Saturday Morning Sports – Husker Softball Plays Michigan for Big Ten Title, Nebraska Baseball Falters at Illinois, Kearney Baseball Falls to Millard West at State, Love Leaves Husker Women’s Basketball, Local Sports Schedule

HUSKER SOFTBALL ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN DRAMATIC FASHION:

Olivia Ferrell hit a RBI double in the bottom of the seventh for the 2-1 walk-off victory over Ohio State Friday afternoon to advance the Huskers to the Big Ten Tournament Final. 

Ferrell (19-6) earned the win in the circle after coming in to pitch in the top of the fifth and holding the Buckeyes to three hits.

Along with Ferrell’s RBI double in the bottom of the seventh, Abbie Squier added an RBI single of her own in the fourth inning. Squier finished 2-for-3 on the day. 

Nebraska will face Michigan – who downed No. 1 seed Northwestern –  in the Big Ten Tournament Championship game at 10 a.m. (CT). 

HUSKER BASEBALL FALLS IN SERIES OPENER:

Nebraska fell 8-3 in the series opener on the road at Illinois on Friday night at Illinois Field in Champaign, Ill.

Nebraska (19-28, 7-12 Big Ten) scored three runs on six hits and an error, while the Illini (27-19, 13-6 Big Ten) had eight runs on 14 hits and one error.

Shay Schanaman fell to 2-8 on the season after allowing seven runs, six earned, on nine hits with a pair of strikeouts in 3.1 innings. 

Game two of this weekend’s series between the Huskers and Illini is set for 3 p.m. today at Illinois Field in Champaign, Ill.

KEARNEY HIGH BASEBALL FALLS TO MILLARD WEST:

In the opening contest of the Nebraska State Baseball Tournament, #8 Kearney High was outgunned by superb pitching from Millard West’s Jaxson Cahoy and Mason Koch to drop the Bearcats 3-0 on Friday afternoon. 

Kearney falls to 15-10 on the year but stays in the hunt in the double elimination bracket, taking on Elkhorn South after the Storm fell to Lincoln East in Game 2. 

Pregame for Monday’s consolation bracket contest begins at 9:45 AM on KGFW with first pitch from Werner Park set for 10 AM. Austin Jacobsen and Tim Higgins will be on the call. 

CHUCK LOVE ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE FROM HUSKER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:

Nebraska women’s basketball associate head coach Chuck Love is officially out of the program.

Love announced on social media Friday that he will be moving on from NU and “be with family and explore other opportunities.”

The longtime assistant of head coach Amy Williams followed her to Lincoln for six seasons. He was suspended with pay in February for what was described as a “personnel matter.”

This was at the same time Ashley Scoggin was removed from the roster. Williams at the time did not say who made that decision or why.

NBA PLAYOFFS SCORES:

FRIDAY RESULTS:

Boston Celtics 108 – 95 Milwaukee Bucks (Tied 3-3)

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 110 – 96 Memphis Grizzlies (GSW Wins 4-2)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE:

Milwaukee Bucks @ Boston Celtics – 2:30 PM

Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns – 7 PM

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: State Tournament v. #1 Millard West
    • MW 3-0
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BASEBALL: State Tournament v. #1 Millard West
    • MW 3-0

SATURDAY:

• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: v. Loper Twilight Meet – 3 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: v. Loper Twilight Meet – 3 PM