Nebraska Posts Walk-Off Win in NCAA Regional Opener
5/19/2016 7:17:00 PM | Softball
Cornhuskers’ Knighten delivers game-winning single in the seventh
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nebraska (34-19) kicked off the 2016 Columbia Regional in style with an exciting 3-2 walk-off win over Louisville (35-16). Junior MJ Knighten (Buena Park, Calif.) recorded an RBI single with the bases loaded in the seventh inning to secure the Cornhuskers' thrilling victory.
The Cornhuskers escaped a first inning jam after Knighten made an inning-ending unassisted double play. Nebraska reached the scoreboard first in the bottom half of the second inning. Sophomore Madi Unzicker (Omaha, Neb.) launched a two-run home run to left field with two strikes and two outs.
Louisville loaded the bases in the third inning and senior Hailey Smith (Bristow, Va.) delivered a game-tying two-run single up the middle. Nebraska threatened to regain the lead in the fifth inning, posting consecutive hits to start the frame. The Cardinals' starting pitcher, junior Maryssa Becker (Medford, Ore.), tallied a big strikeout for the first out and then induced an inning-ending double play.
Nebraska's starting pitcher, senior Emily Lockman (Corona, Calif.), matched Becker inning-by-inning. The two hurlers limited the opposing offenses to two earned runs apiece through six innings of play.
The Cornhuskers loaded the bases in the bottom half of the seventh and sought a walk-off victory. Following a leadoff single, Nebraska reached on a Louisville throwing error. A ground out moved the potential game-winning run to third base. An intentional walk loaded the bases for Nebraska's Knighten and she delivered the game-winning hit on the second pitch.
For complete coverage of the 2016 NCAA Softball Regional in Columbia, Mo., continue to check in to mutigers.com/ncaa.
