A 12-run fourth inning powered the Nebraska softball team to a 16-6 five-inning victory over Illinois Saturday afternoon at Bowlin Stadium.
The start of the game was delayed by more than an hour due to inclement weather, but the delay did not slow down the Husker offense. Nebraska’s 16 runs were a season high, while the 12-run fourth inning was the Huskers’ biggest inning of the year.
It was a 4-3 Husker lead before Nebraska scored 12 times in the fourth inning. The Big Red had seven hits in the fame and sent 18 batters to the plate, and all 12 runs scored with two outs.
In the game, all nine Husker starters had a hit and scored a run and six produced at least one RBI. Billie Andrws, Samantha Bland, Talia Tokehim and Katelyn Caneda each had two hits. Andrews and Caneda added three RBIs apiece, while Bland scored three runs. Ava Bredwell homered and drove in two runs, and Bella Bacon, Tokheim, Caneda and Alina Felix also scored twice.
Kaylin Kinney (12-8) went the distance in the circle for Nebraska, which improved to 18-13 on the season and moved to 2-0 in Big Ten play. Kinney allowed six runs on nine hits in 5.0 innings.
Lauren Wiles (4-5) took the loss for Illinois (12-15, 0-2). Wiles was charged with 13 runs in 3.2 innings, but only three of those runs were earned as the Illini committed eight errors in the game.
Nebraska got the scoring started with a three-run second inning. NU loaded the bases on consecutive singles from Bacon, Tokheim and Felix. Caneda then drew a bases-loaded walk to score Bacon with the game’s first run. Billie Andrews followed with a two-run single to center to push the lead to 3-0.
Illinois answered back with three runs in the top of third. Three consecutive one-out singles loaded the bases before a two-run double cut the lead to 3-2. A sacrifice fly then tied the game.
Nebraska regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. Bland walked with one out before Bacon was hit by a pitch with two outs. Tokheim then grounded a single through the left side and an error on the left fielder allowed Bland to score.
The Huskers then blew the game open with their 12-run fourth inning. Caneda got things started with a single before Billie Andrews was intentionally walked. Brooke Andrews then hit the ball hard but lined into a double play. With a runner on second and two outs, the next 14 Huskers reached base.
An error led to the first run of the inning. Sydney Gray then had an RBI double before a two-run error gave Nebraska an 8-3 lead. With the bases loaded, Caneda delivered a two-run single, and Billie Andrews followed with an RBI single up the middle. Leading 11-3, Brooke Andrews had an RBI single and a wild pitch scored Billie Andrews to make it 13-3. Bredwell then hit a two-run homer to push the lead to 15-3. The final run of the inning scored on the Illini’s sixth error of the inning.
Needing six runs to extend the game, Illinois scored three times in the top of the fifth before Kinney wrapped up her complete game.
