Sarah Harness, Nebraska Softball @ Minnesota, Game Two 2024 // Nebraska Athletics
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – The Nebraska softball team scored seven times in the fifth and sixth innings to rally for an 8-3 win at Minnesota Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Huskers clinched a series victory and a first-round bye at next week’s Big Ten Tournament.
Sarah Harness and Sydney Gray led the way for the Big Red on Saturday. Harness made the comeback possible by shutting out the Gophers over the final five innings, while Gray homered and drove in five runs.
Harness (8-4) earned her second win in as many days with a second straight outstanding relief effort. Harness allowed only one run in 6.2 innings, her longest outing this season.
Offensively, Gray finished 2-for-3 with five RBIs, including a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth inning. Emmerson Cope, Brooke Andrews and Ava Bredwell also had two hits for Nebraska, which totaled 12 hits as a team. Cope, Brooke Andrews and Samantha Bland added one RBI apiece.
With the win, Nebraska improved to 29-21 on the season. The Huskers moved to 12-8 in Big Ten play, securing a top-four finish and a first-round bye for the Big Ten Tournament.
Macy Richardson (5-5) took the loss for Minnesota, which fell to 26-24 overall and 12-10 in conference action.
Both teams found the scoreboard in the first inning. In the top of the first, Billie Andrews drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on a one-out RBI single from Gray to give Nebraska a 1-0 lead.
Minnesota answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first.
The Gophers then used a pair of two-out hits to stretch the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the second.
Nebraska’s next scoring chance came in the top of the fourth. Cope reached on a one-out single and pinch hitter Alina Felix followed with a walk. The Huskers had runners at first and second with one out but could not scored.
NU threatened again in the fifth and this time came through with three runs. Brooke Andrews and Bredwell led off with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no outs. Minnesota then got two outs before Gray hit a three-run homer to left to put Nebraska on top 4-3. The Huskers nearly added to their lead as Cope and Felix had back-to-back singles following Gray’s home run, but a hard line drive from Bacon was right at the shortstop to end the inning.
The Huskers scored four more runs in the top of the sixth. Ashley Smetter led off with a pinch-hit single before Brooke Andrews lined an RBI double down the left field line to give Nebraska a 5-3 lead. Following a pitching change, Bredwell singled and Billie Andrews walked to load the bases with no outs. Samantha Bland then reached on an RBI infield single, giving the Huskers a three-run lead. Gray and Cope then each hit a sacrifice fly to stretch the lead to 8-3.
That was more than enough run support for Harness, who didn’t allow a runner to reach third base after the second inning.
Nebraska and Minnesota wrap up their three-game series on Sunday at Noon.
Post-Game Notes
- With the win, Nebraska clinched a first-round bye at the Big Ten Tournament. The Huskers will be either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed for the Big Ten Tournament.
- The Huskers scored eight runs in the win. Nebraska has scored at least seven runs in nine of their 20 Big Ten games this season.
- Nebraska trailed 3-1 before rallying for the win. The Huskers have come from behind to win 18 of their 29 wins this season, including 11 times when Nebraska won after trailing by multiple runs.
- Sydney Gray homered for the second straight game and finished with five RBIs, her third game this season with at least four RBIs and second game with five or more RBIs.
- Sarah Harness tossed a season-high 6.2 innings. Through the first two games of the series, Harness is 2-0 with a 1.75 ERA in 12.0 innings.
- Alina Felix came off the bench to go 1-for-1 with a single and a walk.
- Ashley Smetter also singled as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.
