Michigan scored nine runs over the third and fourth innings to defeat the Nebraska softball team 11-3 in six innings Sunday in Ann Arbor.

With the loss, Nebraska fell to 25-19 on the season and dropped to 8-6 in Big Ten play.

Kaylin Kinney (15-12) took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) in 3.0 innings. Caitlynn Neal pitched for the first time in two years and allowed four runs in 1.0 inning. Emmerson Cope pitched the final 1.1 innings and allowed two runs on only one hit.

Offensively, six Huskers had a hit in the game. Sydney Gray and Malia Thoms each doubled while Peyton Cody and Bella Bacon produced Nebraska's lone RBIs.

Lauren Derkowski (13-7) earned the win for Michigan, allowing three runs (one earned) in a complete-game effort. The Wolverines improved to 33-13 overall and 14-3 in conference play.

Michigan got back-to-back singles to begin the bottom of the first but Kinney retired the next three batters to work out of the jam.

Michigan had a similar situation in the third and took advantage to score five runs. With two on and none out, an RBI single plated the game's first run. Nebraska then recorded the first out on a fly out to center field and it appeared the Huskers got a double play throwing behind the runner at second base but the runner was ruled safe. A two-run triple gave the Wolverines a 3-0 lead before the final two runs scored on an error and a passed ball.

Nebraska answered with two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 5-3. Gray began the inning with a double before Emmerson Cope walked. An error allowed Gray to score and left runners at second and third with no outs. Cody then came through with a sacrifice fly that scored pinch runner Mckinley Malecha. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Michigan scored four runs. The first two batters walked before a two-run double made it 7-2. A one-out RBI triple followed by a sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 9-2.

In the top of the fifth, Thoms delivered a pinch-hit, one-out double and Billie Andrews followed with a single. But the next two batters were retired on three pitches.

Nebraska came through in a similar spot in the top of the fifth. Cody reached on a one-out single before Ava Bredwell was hit by a pitch. Bacon then delivered an RBI single up the middle. Trailing 9-3, Nebraska had runners on second and third with one out but had to settle for just the one run although Katelyn Caneda crushed a pitch down the right field line that went just foul, narrowly missing a three-run home run.

Michigan then hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to end the game early.

Following six consecutive road games, Nebraska returns home for five home games this week at Bowlin Stadium beginning with a Tuesday doubleheader against Iowa.

Post-Game Notes

• Nebraska was swept in a three-game Big Ten series for the first time since April of 2023 at Northwestern.
• The Huskers' three-game losing streak is its second-longest of the season.
• Malia Thoms had a pinch-hit double in the fifth inning. Thoms is 1-for-4 as a pinch hitter this season and 4-for-15 overall with a pair of doubles.
• With numerous injuries to Nebraska's pitching staff, Caitlynn Neal made her season debut in the circle. Neal arrived at Nebraska as a pitcher and hitter and threw 2.2 innings over three appearances as a freshman in 2021 and 1.0 inning over two appearances as a sophomore in 2022.

HUSKERS CLINCH SERIES IN DOMINANT FASHION

Nebraska matched its season high in runs for the third time this season in a 16-4 thrashing of Maryland in seven innings on Sunday afternoon at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

Nebraska (25-12, 8-4 Big Ten) totaled 16 runs on 16 hits, while Maryland (25-16, 6-9 Big Ten) had four runs on six hits and four errors.

Cayden Brumbaugh fell a homer away from the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple, three RBI and three runs scored. Tyler Stone had a 3-for-5 afternoon with a home run and two RBI. Riley Silva drove in three runs and tallied two hits, while Cole Evans and Joshua Overbeek recorded two hits apiece. Ben Columbus, Garrett Anglim, Case Sanderson and Dylan Carey tallied a hit each.

Will Walsh improved to 4-2 on the season in a 5.1-inning performance, becoming the first NU pitcher to go five-plus innings in a start on Sunday. Walsh allowed four runs on six hits and struck out seven Terrapins across 5.1 innings.

Kyle Froehlich tossed 0.2 innings in relief, recording a pair of strikeouts along the way. Kyle Perry pitched a shutout inning in the seventh to close out the run-rule victory.

The Huskers wasted no time jumping on the Terrapins on Sunday, as Stone drilled a 381-foot two-run homer down the right-field line to give the Big Red a 2-0 lead after the opening frame.

A solo homer in the top of the second trimmed the NU lead in half, before the Husker offense tacked on a trio of runs on three hits and a Terrapin error to extend the lead to 5-1 through two. Sanderson drew a full-count walk, while Evans blooped a first-pitch single to right to place runners on first and third with no outs.

Sanderson scored via a passed ball on a play where Carey struck out, Evans stole second and then advanced to third on an error from the Maryland pitcher receiving the baseball. Back-to-back RBI singles from Brumbaugh and Silva gave the Huskers a four-run advantage.

Nebraska piled on five runs with seven hits and a couple errors from the Terrapins to grow the lead to 10-1 in the fourth. Five straight hits to start the inning had the Huskers out front by eight. Carey led off the inning and scored on a play where Overbeek reached on a bunt single and took second after a wild throw from the Terrapins.

Brumbaugh followed Overbeek with an RBI triple down the left-field line, while an infield RBI single by Silva plated Brumbaugh. Silva took second on the play after an errant throw by the Terps, and Columbus continued the hitting parade for the NU offense with an RBI single to right to score Silva.

Maryland finally recorded an out after five straight hits from the NU offense. A two-out double to left-center by Sanderson placed runners on second and third, while Evans singled deep into the hole at shortstop for an RBI single to bring home Columbus.

Walsh sat down the Terrapins in order in the fifth, before Brumbaugh’s RBI double to left expanded the lead 10 for the Big Red.

The Terrapin offense came to life in the top of the sixth with four hits, including a trio of RBI singles to make it a seven-run game heading into the bottom of the sixth.

The Huskers answered with five more runs on two hits and error to enlarge the lead to 16-4. Caron opened the inning with a hit by pitch, while four straight walks from the Maryland pitching staff kept the bases loaded for the NU offense and added two more runs.

Silva lifted an 0-1 pitch to left for a sacrifice fly to score Evans. A wild throw from the Terps on the sacrifice fly moved runners to second and third on the play, setting up Anglim’s two-RBI single to left field to make it a 16-4 game through six innings.

Perry took the mound in the seventh and retired the Terrapins in order to preserve the 16-4 run-rule win for the Huskers.

Nebraska continues its homestand this week, welcoming Kansas to Hawks Field at Haymarket Park on Tuesday, April 23. First pitch between the Huskers and Jayhawks is set for 6:05 p.m.

HUSKERS FALL TO MICHIGAN

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The Nebraska women’s tennis team (12-10, 3-8 Big Ten) fell early in doubles and singles against No. 2 Michigan (23-3, 10-0 Big Ten ) and lost 4-0 to close the regular season.

Action against the Wolverines started with doubles play. In the No. 2 spot, Ana Zamburek and Anfisa Danilchenko battled against Kari Miller and Bailey Sheinin but lost 6-3. On Court Three, the Huskers’ Isabel Adrover Gallego and Lucy Loy fought hard against Julia Fliegner and Lily Jones, but Michigan managed to secure the doubles point with a 6-1 win. The match between Raphaelle Lacasse and Maja Pietrowicz on Court One was left unfinished at 4-4.  

On to singles, Zamburek fell to No. 116 Piper Charney in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 on Court Four. Michigan native Pietrowicz lost to No. 85 Lily Jones 6-0, 6-2 at Court Five to put Michigan within one point of the conference title and match victory. Danilchenko was then defeated by No. 24 Julia Fliegner to give the Wolverines the overall victory. 

Up next, the Huskers will stay in Michigan for the Big Ten Tournament starting Wednesday. 

Michigan 4, Nebraska 0

Singles
No. 1 -- No. 3 Kari Miller (MICH) vs. Raphaëlle Lacasse (NEB), 6-4, 5-0 UF
No. 2 -- No. 56 Gala Mesochoritou (MICH) vs. Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB), 6-4, 3- UF
No. 3 -- No. 24 Julia Fliegner (MICH) d. Anfisa Danilchenko (NEB), 6-2, 6-1
No. 4 -- No. 110 Piper Charney (MICH) d. Ana Zamburek (NEB), 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 -- No. 77 Lily Jones (MICH) d. Maja Pietrowicz (NEB), 6-0, 6-2
No. 6 -- Reese Miller (MICH) vs. Maria Taranova (NEB), 6-3, 4-3 UF
 
Doubles
No. 1 -- Piper Charney/Reese Miller (MICH) vs. Raphaëlle Lacasse/Maja Pietrowicz (NEB), 4-4 abandoned
No. 2 -- Kari Miller/Bayley Sheinin (MICH) d. Anfisa Danilchenko/Ana Zamburek (NEB), 6-3
No. 3 -- Julia Fliegner/Lily Jones (MICH) d. Isabel Adrover Gallego/Lucy Loy (NEB), 6-1
 
Order of Completion: Doubles 3-2; Singles 4-5-3

HUSKERS SWEEP PENN STATE ON SENIOR DAY

Lincoln, Neb. - NU dominated today’s conference match and claimed the most victories for the program since 2009, as the #58 Nebraska men’s tennis team (16-9, 5-4 Big Ten) closed out the regular season with a 7-0 sweep of Penn State (5-19, 1-8 Big Ten) on Senior Day. 

Highlighting the day was seniors Rudi Christiansen, Shunya Maruyama and Nic Wiedenhorn each winning their matches, and No. 119 Calvin Mueller claiming his fifth ranked win, and 26th of the season, defeating No. 79 Miko Eala 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5).

The Big Ten matchup began with doubles at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center. On Court One, #85 Anton Shepp and Wiedenhorn had a dominant match against Miko Eala and Stefan Simeunovic, defeating the Nittany Lions, 6-1. At No. 3 doubles, Leo Linquet and Maruyama finished next, taking down Ari Cotoulas and Alexander Sterin, 6-2, to clinch the doubles point. Calvin Mueller and Lars Johann competed at No. 2 doubles, but their match against Nolan Ranger and Jack Martuccio was abandoned at 4-5.

The Big Red began singles with the lead, and five Huskers took their first sets. Chrisitansen was the first to finish, defeating Ritvik Nadikude, 6-1, 6-0, in the No. 6 slot. Roni Hietaranta played the No. 5 singles slot and took down Alexander Sterin, 6-0, 6-3. On Court Three, Maruyama clinched the match win for the Big Red, defeating Nolan Ranger, 6-2, 6-3. Johann was next to finish, playing Jack Martuccio in the No. 4 slot, and winning, 6-2, 7-5. On Court One, #119 Mueller had yet another ranked upset win, defeating #79 Miko Eala, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5). At No. 2 singles, Shepp rallied to come back and secure the 7-0 sweep for the Big Red, taking down Stefan Simeunovic, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-1). 

The senior day sweep improved the Huskers’ record to 16-9 (5-4 Big Ten) to conclude the regular season. The 16th win marks a program best since 2009. Mueller’s win at No. 1 singles was his fifth ranked win, finishing the regular season with a perfect 5-0 record against ranked conference opponents. Defeating Eala also notched the junior’s 26th singles win of the season, to tie Toby Boyer for fifth place on the single-season victories record list. Maruyama earned his 19th singles win of the season on Court Three, and his 18th doubles win, after defeating Cotoulas and Sterin. Concluding the regular season with a 5-4 conference record sets the Big Red up to be the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The Huskers conclude home play with an 11-3 record when playing at Dillon. Head Coach Peter Kobelt has led the team to a program record most wins from a first-year coach, all-time.

Up next, the Huskers head to Evanston, Ill., for the Big Ten Tournament. Seeded at No. 5, the Big Red will take on No. 4 Illinois on Friday, April 26, with first serve set for 11 a.m. (CT). Live stats will be available on Huskers.com, as well as live updates and content posted on X/Twitter at @HuskerMTennis.

#58 Nebraska 7, Penn State 0

Singles competition
1. #119 Calvin Mueller (NEB) def. #79 Miko Eala (PSU) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5)
2. Anton Shepp (NEB) def. Stefan Simeunovic (PSU) 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-1)
3. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Nolan Ranger (PSU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Lars Johann (NEB) def. Jack Martuccio (PSU) 6-2, 7-5
5. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) def. Alexander Sterin (PSU) 6-0, 6-3
6. Rudi Christiansen (NEB) def. Ritvik Nadikude (PSU) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Anton Shepp/Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) def. Miko Eala/Stefan Simeunovic (PSU) 6-1
2. Calvin Mueller/Lars Johann (NEB) vs. Nolan Ranger/Jack Martuccio (PSU) 4-5, unfinished
3. Leo Linquet/Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Ari Cotoulas/Alexander Sterin (PSU) 6-2

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,5,3,4,1,2)