Nebraska softball splits New Mexico State doubleheader, Rhonda Revelle earns 1,100th win
Nebraska softball split its doubleheader against New Mexico State. They lost game one 3-0 after an outstanding performance from freshman right-handed pitcher Desirae Spearman. After switching up their lineup, the Huskers took the second game 4-1 behind a much-improved offense.
The Aggies are hosting the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, New Mexico. NU will play three more games in the Classic. They take on Montana at 10:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 17 and then Sacramento State at 1:00 p.m. On Sunday at 10:00 a.m., NU battles Sacramento State again.
Rhonda Revelle won her 1,100th game as Nebraska’s head coach. She is one of three active NCAA softball coaches to reach the mark along with Oklahoma’s Patty Gasso and Alabama’s Patrick Murphy.
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The Huskers desperately missed their two best players against NMSU. Ace pitcher Jordy Bahl announced on Tuesday that she suffered a season-ending ACL injury in her left knee in NU’s first game of the season.
Additionally, shortstop Billie Andrews missed both games on Friday. She is in concussion protocol after getting hit in the head with a ball during Tuesday’s practice, according to Revelle on the Huskers Radio Network.
Andrews sparked NU’s offense in their last two games and was greatly missed in the batting order. She is also one of the best shortstops nationally.
Spearman leads New Mexico State to 3-0 victory
With Bahl out for 2024, Kaylin Kinney is Nebraska softball’s ace. She had a rough go against the Aggies. In four innings, the senior right-handed pitcher allowed six hits, three runs and two home runs. She collected three strikeouts and hit one batter with a pitch.
Freshman Caitlin Olensky took the circle in the fifth inning and finished out the game. The left-handed pitcher allowed one hit in two innings. She had two strikeouts and walked one batter of the eight batters she faced.
Desirae Spearman, NMSU’s right-handed pitcher, was the Aggie’s most valuable player against NU. She allowed one hit and had four strikeouts with one walk. The freshman phenom was also dangerous at the plate. She had a home run, a double and two RBIs.
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After 1.5 scoreless and hitless innings, Spearman crushed a home run to left field. The next batter, Kendal Lunar, followed it up with a left-field home run of her own.
New Mexico State went up 2-0 with no outs. Kawehi Ili kept it going with a single to center field. However, after Kinney struck out Kayla Lunar, Ili was caught stealing second.
After a ball slipped between Sammie Bland‘s legs for an error, Jessica Carreon is called out after a bunt.
Nebraska softball loaded the bases in the top of the third with the help of two NMSU errors and a walk. However, they couldn’t capitalize and left the bases loaded after two good plays from Spearman. The pitcher threw out Bella Bacon at home and then caught a line drive by Sydney Gray to end the half-inning.
And yet again, the Husker’s defense got itself into a tight situation. Back-to-back doubles from Riley Carley and Spearman earned an RBI for Spearman to take a 3-0 lead. The inning ended with Ili grounded out at first base after a hit to third.
Nebraska softball didn’t get its first hit until Bland singled up the middle in the top of the fifth. NU consistently made strong contact on pitches but hit right to the Aggie’s defenders. The sophomore finally broke through for a hit.
However, her teammates left her on second base after Caneda was grounded out and Andrews flied out to left field.
Left-handed pitcher Caitlin Olensky came in for Kinney to start the bottom of the fifth. After giving up a single to Taylor and walking Spearman, Olensky struck out Ili to end the inning with two on base.
Nebraska didn’t get on base after Bland’s single in the fifth inning.
New Mexico State won game one 3-0 behind an incredible game from Spearman.
Nebraska switch lineup and win 4-1
Revelle shuffled NU’s batting lineup to start game two. Bland was the lead-off hitter as she was the only player to get a hit in game one. However, she was caught stealing third.
Bacon singled to right and then Cope crushed a double to left. But Bacon was tagged out at home plate. Spearman was the outfielder who gunned her out.
Nebraska softball couldn’t get away from Spearman, even when she wasn’t pitching. The freshman moved to left field and stayed in the batting lineup to the Huskers’ dismay. On her first pitch of game two, she hit it over the fence in left field for her second homer of the day.
NU tied it up 1-1 in the top of the second. Alina Felix, game two’s right fielder, sent a double over NMSU’s right fielder’s head. Brooke Andrews, who was walked, scored the Huskers’ first run of the doubleheader.
The Huskers loaded the bases thanks to a fielding error and Neal being hit by a pitch. However, Bland and pinch hitter Ashley Smetter were retired to end the half-inning.
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Bacon started the third inning with a double and then Cope was hit by a pitch on her elbow. The Aggies replaced right-handed pitcher Emily Dix with right-handed pitcher Jaileen Mancha. Mancha entered with two on and no outs.
Dix pitched two innings and gave up five hits and one run. She didn’t have a strikeout but did walk a batter. As for Mancha, she pitched five innings and gave up three hits and one earned run. She had five strikeouts against the 20 batters she saw.
Mancha walked her first batter and then Gray reached on a fielder’s choice to throw out Cope at third instead. Bacon scored to give NU a 2-1 lead in the top of the third.
Felix kept it going with a single and then captain and catcher Mckinley Malecha reached on another fielder’s choice. Andrews scored as shortstop Spearman overthrew third baseman Kayla Lunar. Neal and Bland were both retired to end the inning.
Left-fielder Jayleen Burton started the bottom of the third with a single, and Kendal Lunar hit another with two outs. Lunar’s hit bounced off Harness’s foot in the center of the infield. Carley grounded out to end the inning with two on base.
In the bottom of the fourth, Harness walked two batters, but her defense didn’t allow a run.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Emmerson Cope came in for Harness in the second half of the fifth inning. In her first game pitching as a Husker, Cope is credited with the save. In three innings, she allowed two hits while facing 11 batters.
Andrews crushed a home run to left field in the top of the seventh. This was Andrews’ first home run of the season.
In the top of the seventh, Cope faced Burton and then Taylor and Spearman at the top of NMSU’s lineup. Burton and Taylor were retired quickly on grounders. Spearman, the MVP of the doubleheader, sent up a pop fly that Smetter caught for the final out.
Huskers suffer many impactful injuries
Nebraska softball has suffered the loss of two critical leaders and players on the field. Pitcher Jordy Bahl suffered a season-ending injury in her first game as a Husker. She announced on Wednesday that she will redshirt in 2024 and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Ahead of the season, NU announced that outfielder Abbie Squiers would miss the 2024 season as she continues to rehab her hip and shoulder. She had surgery after the 2023 season and will redshirt in 2024. Squiers was still voted a 2024 team captain.
Infielder Abbey Newlun tore her ACL this off-season as well.
Outfielder Dakota Carter, who was slaught to be NU’s starting left fielder, has had her right arm in a sling for a few weeks. She has not played this season yet.
Right fielder Caitlynn Neal missed Nebraska’s game vs. Utah Valley due to a hand injury. Against Long Beach State, a foul ball bounced up and hit her in the hand while she was standing on third base.
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And now most recently, Billie Andrews was out in the doubleheader vs. NMSU. A ball hit her on the head during a drill in Tuesday’s practice. She could potentially play on Saturday or Sunday.
Bland played for Andrews at shortstop. She ignited NU on offense. However, Bland did have one error which was in the first game. A ball slipped between her legs to allow a base hit. Bland did a good job for the rest of the day.
Nebraska missed Andrews’ power on offense and reliability at shortstop.
This season was projected to be magical for the Huskers. But it has been greatly altered by the number of injuries.
