Case Sanderson tallied a career-high three hits and added an RBI single in the seventh inning, as Nebraska took the series over New Mexico State with a narrow 2-1 win on Saturday at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

It marked the Huskers’ fifth straight series victory to begin the season, as NU has won 13 of its last 15 games, including nine of 10 at home.

Nebraska (17-5) scored two runs on six hits with two errors, while New Mexico State (10-13) totaled one run on seven hits with an error.

Sanderson led the Big Red at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a trio of singles and an RBI, while Tyler Stone finished 1-for-3 and drove in the Huskers’ other run of the game. Josh Caron went 1-for-4 with a double for the Big Red’s only extra-base hit of the afternoon.

Drew Christo dealt 4.1 shutout frames in his fifth start of the season, issuing three walks to go along with four punchouts. Over the last four games, NU starting pitchers haven’t allowed a run in 23.1 innings of work, posting 31 strikeouts to only five walks.

Kyle Froehlich retired three of four batters faced out of the bullpen, while Jalen Worthley imrproved to 2-0 with a scoreless inning. Evan Borst and Casey Daiss kept the Aggies off the board in the seventh and eighth frames. 

Rans Sanders gave up a run on two hits, while Kyle Perry got the final out to preserve the one-run win for the Huskers.

Both teams exchanged scoreless frames across the first three innings, with Christo retiring nine of the first 11 Aggies that came to the plate.

The Husker offense put runners on first and second with two outs in the third frame, as Dylan Carey reached on an error followed by Sanderson’s second hit of the day. However, Aggie starter Trey Meza forced Overbeek to groundout to short putting an end to the NU threat.

NMSU loaded the bases with one out in the fourth frame, before Christo picked off a runner at second base and induced a flyout to center field to leave a trio of Aggies on base as the game remained scoreless.

Christo issued a walk to open the fifth inning, who was subsequently caught stealing before a one-out double ended the junior’s day. Froehlich entered and retired the next two batters to keep the contest even at 0-0.

The Aggies once again worked a runner into scoring position, tagging Froehlich for a leadoff double and moving to third on a groundout. Worthley replaced Froehlich on the mound, who forced a popout and flyout to keep NMSU off the board.

Nebraska finally scratched across a run in the sixth inning after a pair of outs. Caron slapped a two-out double into the left-center gap, before Stone followed it up with an RBI single through the right side to put the Huskers up 1-0.

Borst entered the game in the seventh frame with runners on first and third with one out, forcing a strikeout before a walk loaded the bases again. The right-hander fielded a bunt down the third-base line and fired to first to end the inning and keep the Huskers ahead by a run.

Nebraska added an insurance run in the bottom half after Riley Silva and Carey were each plunked. Sanderson singled through the right side to double the Huskers’ lead and give the freshman a career-high three hits on the afternoon.

Daiss then hurled a shutout eighth frame, striking out two of four batters faced to give him five straight scoreless appearances.

Two hits off Sanders in the ninth inning plated the Aggies’ first run of the day, before Perry entered and punched out his lone batter faced to secure his third save of the season.

Nebraska and New Mexico State wrap up the weekend series tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park. Sunday’s matchup can be seen on B1G+, while fans can listen to Greg Sharpe and Ben McLaughlin call the action on the Huskers Radio Network.

BIG INNING POWERS BIG RED TO 16-6 WIN

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.

Nebraska and Illinois are scheduled to complete their three-game series on Sunday at Noon, weather permitting.

Post-Game Notes

• Nebraska scored a season-high 16 runs.
• The Huskers' 12-run fourth inning was the highest-scoring inning of the season.
• Talia Tokheim, who missed nearly one year due to injury, made her first start of the season as the designated player, her first start since March 22, 2023. Tokheim singled in her first at bat to record her first year of the hit.
• Samantha Bland scored a career-high three runs.
• Kaylin Kinney tossed her second complete game of the season

HUSKERS PLACE SEVENTH AT BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team placed seventh at the Big Ten Championships on Saturday, March 23 in East Lansing, Mich., with a score of 196.250.

Emma Spence, Csenge Bácskay, Martina Comin and Sophia McClelland were named to the Big Ten Conference Championship teams, as they tied for or outright won first place in their respective events in the first session – Spence earned a first-place finish in the all-around (39.450), bars (9.900) and floor (9.900), while Bácskay did the same on vault (9.900) and Comin and McClelland tied for first on the floor (9.900) in Session 1.

Spence tied for fifth in the all-around (39.450) through both sessions, along with tying for third on bars (9.900). Bácskay tied for third on vault (9.900).  

Michigan State placed first in the conference (197.600), Minnesota was second (197.500), MIchigan was third (197.225), Ohio State was fourth (197.050), Maryland was fifth (196.775), Illinois was sixth (196.700), Nebraska was seventh (196.250), Penn State was eighth (195.825), Rutgers was ninth (195.400) and Iowa was 10th (193.975). 

Rotation One
NU kicked off the conference championships on vault, notching a 49.075 as a team. Bácskay led the team with a career-high 9.900, and Comin followed her with a 9.825. Spence notched a 9.800, and Kinsey Davis, Ayzhia Hall and Isabel Sikon all posted a 9.775 to round out the rotation.

Rotation Two
The Huskers had a bye during rotation two.

Rotation Three
The Big Red continued the day with a strong 49.300 on bars, led by a 9.900 from Spence. Whitney Jencks earned a 9.875, and Clara Colombo and Emma Simpton each scored a 9.850. Bácskay posted a 9.825, and Davis finished out the lineup (9.175).

Rotation Four
Nebraska then competed on the beam and registered a 48.450 team score. Sikon and Spence both scored a 9.850 to top the team, while Hall earned a 9.825. Bácskay (9.700), McClelland (9.225) and Allie Gard (9.100) rounded out the lineup. 

Rotation Five
NU had a bye during rotation five.

Rotation Six
The Huskers concluded the day on the floor, earning a 49.300 as a team. They were led by Comin, Spence and McClelland, as all three scored a 9.900. Jencks and Bácskay both earned a 9.850, and Halle Rourke finished out the rotation with a 9.900.

Up Next
The Huskers will await their fate for the 2024 NCAA Championships, with the Selection Show airing Monday, March 25 at 11 a.m. (CT) here. The regional round will take place from April 3-7 at one of four locations around the country. The championship round is April 18-20 in Fort Worth, Texas.

JORGENSON NAMED FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN ON SATURDAY

On the final day at the 2024 NCAA Championships in Athens, Ga., Gena Jorgenson became the first Husker swimmer to garner First-Team All-America honors since 2001.

The sophomore from Aberdeen, S.D. swam a time of 15:55.71 in the 1650 freestyle to finish eighth overall and break her third school record of the week. She is now 19 seconds faster than any other miler in Nebraska history. Jorgenson owns six school records, including the 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle, 1650 freestyle, 400 IM, 800m freestyle and 1500m freestyle.

Jorgenson improved her seed in all three events this week, finishing 33rd in the 400 IM while shattering a 25-year old school record and placing 27th in the 500 freestyle while breaking her own record.

At the Big Ten Championships, Jorgenson earned a podium finish in the mile with a fifth-place finish, captured 10th in the 500 freestyle and placed 20th in the 400 IM. She has collected 19 individual victores and 27 top-five finishes throughout the season.

Kelsey Clairmont finished competition in platform diving, recording a score of 242.70. The sophomore from Regina, SK, Canada finished 20th to achieve her career-high NCAA finish. A year ago, Clairmont placed 34th in the event.

Both Jorgenson and Clairmont helped the Huskers to a 30th-place national finish.