Kansas bats chilled in loss to Nebraska, 5-1
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas softball was held a season low of one run scored during a 5-1 loss to Nebraska on Saturday at Arrocha Ballpark during the final day of the Jayhawk Invitational.
The Jayhawks drop to 17-5 on the season after the 111th meeting between the former conference rivals. Nebraska improves to 15-7 after winning all four of its games played in Lawrence this weekend.
The Huskers got on the board in the first inning after a two-out RBI double by Madi Unzicker.
KU, which ranks top-30 in the nation in scoring offense, responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning. The Jayhawks were efficient early at the top of the order as freshman Brittany Jackson led off the bottom of the first with a four-pitch walk and was quickly advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Dellinger.
Senior catcher Harli Ridling drove in Jackson on a single through the left side, tying the game at 1-1.
Kansas showed signs of life at the plate as freshman Shelby Gayre led off the second inning with a triple, and senior Jessie Roane and freshman Tarin Travieso added respective singles, but the Jayhawks couldn’t piece together enough momentum before the final out and were held scoreless during the final six innings of the contest.
Junior starting pitcher Brynn Minor (4-1) dueled the Nebraska hitters to keep the game tied at one into the fifth inning. Minor retired seven-straight Huskers at the plate heading into the fifth before a walk and a single on back-to-back at-bats setup another two-out RBI double, this time by Alyvia Simmons, to drive in two runs and give the Huskers the go-ahead 3-1 lead.
Minor made her third start, throwing 5.2 innings with seven hits and five runs allowed to receive her first losing decision in the circle this season. Travieso entered the circle during a two-run sixth inning by Nebraska and proceed to throw 1.1 shutout innings of relief with two strikeouts through six batters faced.
Nebraska’s Kaylan Jablonski (7-5) tossed a complete-game to earn the victory in the circle.
Despite reaching base on a leadoff walk, Jackson’s 11-game hitting streak came to an end on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Sunday’s games during Kansas softball’s Jayhawk Invitational have been canceled due to forecasted cold temperatures in the Lawrence area. Four games were originally slated to be played at Arrocha Ballpark on Sunday, including two Kansas games against Green Bay and Tulsa.
The Jayhawks return to Arrocha Ballpark next weekend for the Rock Chalk Challenge, March 15-18.
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