No. 21 Nebraska softball fell in a slugfest to Ohio State, 13-12, Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. The loss evens the Big Ten series at one game each, with Sunday’s game at noon scheduled as a non-conference game.
The Buckeyes (19-6-1, 1-1 B1G) took a 2-0 lead after scoring single runs in the first and second innings. But in the third, the Cornhuskers (20-7, 1-1 B1G) exploded for six runs, taking a 6-2 lead. Ohio State wasted no time responding, hammering Husker pitching for nine runs to take an 11-6 lead.
But Nebraska fought back. Two runs in the fourth inning and four in the fifth gave NU a 12-11 lead. The Buckeyes took the lead back in the sixth. After a leadoff walk to Kaitlyn Farley, Morgan Frye followed with a single, then moved to second on the throw as Farley advanced to third. With runners second and third and one, Taylor Cruse hit a sacrifice fly to Farley and tie the game at 12. Hadley Parisien followed with a single to score Frye to give OSU the necessary run to take the lead.
Layna Gerhard (3-0) earned the win for Ohio State, allowing four runs (one earned) in 3.2 innings pitched. Emmerson Cope (4-1) took the loss for Nebraska, allowing two earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched.
Cope paced the Huskers offense, coming off the bench to hit two home runs and drive in four runs. Kacie Hoffman was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Cruse was 2-for-2 with five RBI with a double and a home run to lead the Buckeyes offense. Reagan Milliken hit two home runs with four RBI.
The Huskers will close their series Sunday at noon in a game that will not count in the conference standings. Each Big Ten team plays two two-game Big Ten series