Early Runs Propel Huskers Past South Dakota State

Cassie McClure struck out 10 in a complete-game win, and she added an RBI at the plate. (Photo Courtesy Stephanie Carpenter/Nebraska Communications)

Lincoln – The Nebraska softball team jumped out to a 3-0 lead then held on for a 3-2 victory over South Dakota State on Tuesday at Bowlin Stadium.

Junior right-hander Cassie McClure (12-5) tied a career high with 10 strikeouts and tossed a complete game to help the Huskers snap a two-game losing streak. With the win, Nebraska notched its 20th victory of the season, improving to 20-11.

McClure also added an RBI at the plate on a day when seven of Nebraska’s nine hitters produced a hit. Senior Alicia Armstrong was the lone Husker to finish with multiple hits (2), while classmate Mattie Fowler was 1-for-3 with an RBI double to extend her career-long hitting streak to 10 games. Sophomore Madi Unzicker added her fourth home run of the season.

Nebraska started fast, racing to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior MJ Knighten and sophomore Kaylan Jablonski recorded back-to-back one-out singles. Knighten then scored the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly from McClure, before Jablonski came home on a two-out, RBI double from Fowler.

The Huskers took a 3-0 lead when Unzicker led off the bottom of the second inning with a towering home run down the left field line. Nebraska then loaded the bases on consecutive singles from sophomore Laura Barrow and senior Kiki Stokes and a four-pitch walk to Knighten, but the Huskers failed to add to their lead.

South Dakota State got a run back in the top of the fourth when Devan Larsen led off with a solo homer. The Jacks then pulled to within 3-2 on a two-out, RBI double from Lyndsey Crist.

In the top of the fifth, SDSU had runners at first and second with two outs when Lauren Chirnside hit a blooper to shallow right field, where sophomore Taylor Otte made a nice sliding grab to prevent the tying run from scoring.

That proved to be the Jackrabbits’ final threat, as McClure retired the final eight hitters, ending the game on her 10th strikeout.

Ashlyn Bender (5-12) took the loss for South Dakota State (11-20). Bender allowed three runs on eight hits in a complete-game effort.

Nebraska returns to conference play this weekend when the Huskers travel to College Park, Md., for a three-game series with the Maryland Terrapins.