Harness, Gray Lead Huskers Past Gophers

The Nebraska softball team scored seven times in the fifth and sixth innings to rally for an 8-3 win at Minnesota Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Huskers clinched a series victory and a first-round bye at next week's Big Ten Tournament.

Sarah Harness and Sydney Gray led the way for the Big Red on Saturday. Harness made the comeback possible by shutting out the Gophers over the final five innings, while Gray homered and drove in five runs.

Harness (8-4) earned her second win in as many days with a second straight outstanding relief effort. Harness allowed only one run in 6.2 innings, her longest outing this season.

Offensively, Gray finished 2-for-3 with five RBIs, including a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth inning. Emmerson Cope, Brooke Andrews and Ava Bredwell also had two hits for Nebraska, which totaled 12 hits as a team. Cope, Brooke Andrews and Samantha Bland added one RBI apiece.

With the win, Nebraska improved to 29-21 on the season. The Huskers moved to 12-8 in Big Ten play, securing a top-four finish and a first-round bye for the Big Ten Tournament.

Macy Richardson (5-5) took the loss for Minnesota, which fell to 26-24 overall and 12-10 in conference action.

Both teams found the scoreboard in the first inning. In the top of the first, Billie Andrews drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on a one-out RBI single from Gray to give Nebraska a 1-0 lead. 

Minnesota answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first.

The Gophers then used a pair of two-out hits to stretch the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the second. 

Nebraska's next scoring chance came in the top of the fourth. Cope reached on a one-out single and pinch hitter Alina Felix followed with a walk. The Huskers had runners at first and second with one out but could not scored.

NU threatened again in the fifth and this time came through with three runs. Brooke Andrews and Bredwell led off with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no outs. Minnesota then got two outs before Gray hit a three-run homer to left to put Nebraska on top 4-3. The Huskers nearly added to their lead as Cope and Felix had back-to-back singles following Gray's home run, but a hard line drive from Bacon was right at the shortstop to end the inning.

The Huskers scored four more runs in the top of the sixth. Ashley Smetter led off with a pinch-hit single before Brooke Andrews lined an RBI double down the left field line to give Nebraska a 5-3 lead. Following a pitching change, Bredwell singled and Billie Andrews walked to load the bases with no outs. Samantha Bland then reached on an RBI infield single, giving the Huskers a three-run lead. Gray and Cope then each hit a sacrifice fly to stretch the lead to 8-3.

That was more than enough run support for Harness, who didn't allow a runner to reach third base after the second inning.

Nebraska and Minnesota wrap up their three-game series on Sunday at Noon.