LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Athletics) – The Nebraska softball team pitched out of trouble most of the night Friday but a ninth-inning walk-off home run lifted Michigan to a 4-3 series-opening win in Ann Arbor.

The game headed to extra innings tied 2-2 before Samantha Bland gave Nebraska the lead with a leadoff home run in the top of the eighth. A two-out rally from Michigan in the bottom of the inning tied the game, but the Wolverines missed a chance to win it by leaving the bases loaded.

Then in the ninth, Nebraska stranded a runner at second base in its half of the inning before Ava Costales hit a walk-off home run to left center with one out.

Nebraska’s pitching staff did well in limiting one of the conference’s top offenses. Michigan entered the game averaging 7.5 runs per game in its first 14 Big Ten games, but the Huskers held the Wolverines to just four runs.

Sarah Harness and Kaylin Kinney were able to escape jams throughout the night to give Nebraska a chance. Michigan had the leadoff runner on base in six of its nine innings but the Wolverines were just 3-for-20 with runners on base and 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Michigan stranded 15 base runners in the game.

Michigan left the bases loaded four times, including the sixth inning when the Wolverines loaded the bases with no outs but did not score. The two runs Michigan scored in regulation were an unearned run in the first inning and a bases-loaded walk in the fourth.

Kinney (15-11) took the loss, allowing two runs in 5.0 innings. Harness started and was charged with two runs (one earned) in 3.1 innings. While both pitchers were effective in pressure situations, but the duo did combine to walk a season-high nine batters.

Offensively, Nebraska had just one hit in the first seven innings as Bland’s eighth-inning home run was just the second hit of the game for the Huskers. Nebraska was out-hit 9-5. The Huskers drew four walks and were hit by four pitches, but Nebraska was just 2-for-14 with runners on base and stranded 10 runners.

Sydney Gray went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and two RBIs. Bland finished 1-for-5 with her home run. Billie Andrews and Caitlynn Neal produced Nebraska’s other hits.

Nebraska fell to 25-17 with the loss and dropped to 8-4 in Big Ten play. Michigan improved to 11-0 at home while moving to 31-14 overall and 12-3 in conference play. Hannah George (3-1) earned the win in relief by tossing a scoreless ninth inning.

Michigan took advantage of a Husker miscue to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Following a bloop leadoff double, a passed ball moved the runner to third with no outs. Harness then retired the next three hitters with back-to-back ground outs and a fly out, but the second ground out scored the runner from third.

Nebraska’s offense was quiet until the top of the fourth. Peyton Cody drew a leadoff walk before Michigan got two outs. Neal was hit by a two-out pitch to bring up Gray, who recorded the Huskers’ first hit of the game with a two-run double to left to give Nebraska a 2-1 lead. Bella Bacon and Ava Bredwell were both then hit by a pitch to load the bases for Billie Andrews, who flew out to the wall in center.

Michigan came right back in the bottom of the frame. The Wolverines had a pair of singles to begin the inning and a one-out walk loaded the bases and brought Kinney into the game. Kinney coaxed a comebacker to the circle and threw home for the second out of the inning. The next batter drew a seven-pitch walk to score a run and tie the game at 2-2. But Kinney limited the damage with an inning-ending strikeout.

The Wolverines continued to put together scoring chances in the top of the sixth. The first three batters all walked to load the bases with no outs. But Kinney escaped the jam with a force out at home, a strikeout and a foul out.

In the top of the seventh, Bredwell was hit by a pitch and Billie Andrews walked to put runners at first and second with one out but the Huskers were unable to score.

Kinney then quickly retired the first two batters of the bottom of the seventh before a hit batter, an error and an infield bloop single loaded the bases with two outs. She escaped the jam when Gray fielded a chopper at third and dove to touch the third base bag with her glove just before the runner made it to the base.

In the top of the eighth, Bland led off with a home run to left. After a strikeout, Neal and Gray had back-to-back singles. Bacon then lined a ball to left where Ellie Sieler made a sliding catch to save at least one run.

In the bottom of the eighth, Kinney recorded the first two outs on just three pitches. A bunt single put the tying run on base and a bloop single that just eluded a diving Neal in right field scored the tying run. With first base open and Keke Tholl, the reigning Big Ten and National Player of the Week at the plate, Nebraska issued an intentional walk. A wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third so the Huskers issued a second intentional walk to load the bases. Kinney then fell behind the next hitter 3-1 before coming back with two straight strikes for an inning-ending strikeout.

In the top of the ninth, Billie Andrews began the inning with a single. Katelyn Caneda then moved Andrews to second base with a sacrifice bunt. But Andrews was left stranded at second base.

In the bottom of the ninth, Kinney won a nine-pitch at bat with a ground out before Costales hit her walk-off homer on a 1-0 pitch.

Nebraska and Michigan continued their series on Saturday at 1 p.m. (Central).

Post-Game Notes

• Nebraska played its eighth extra-inning game of the season, falling to 4-4 in extra innings.
• The Huskers have played five extra-inning games in Big Ten play, posting a 3-2 record in those games.
• Including tonight, in three of Nebraska’s four Big Ten losses this season, the game was tied or the Huskers led in the sixth inning or later.
• Samantha Bland’s eighth-inning home run was her fifth home run of the season.

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Four-star senior Justin Pippen, son of Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, announced his commitment to Michigan on Friday.

Pippen chose new coach Dusty May and the Wolverines over a final list that also included Cal , Florida, Stanford and Texas A&M.

“I like the feel of the campus and school,” Pippen told ESPN. “I wanted to be at a big school. They can help me reach my end goal of making the NBA.”

Michigan was a late arrival into Pippen’s recruitment, but shortly after May was hired as Juwan Howard’s replacement in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines entered the mix.

“I was really going to make a decision between my other schools,” Pippen said. “Then I got a call from Coach Dusty May. I wanted to give him a chance. We set up a Zoom call. I went on a visit and I felt it was the right place and situation for me.”

“Coach Dusty May has been straight up with me,” Pippen added. “He sees me playing both in and off the ball. He even mentioned they are bringing in other guys.”

A 6-foot-3 combo guard who attended Sierra Canyon High School (California), Pippen was a late breakout in his high school career. A four-star guard, he will likely be ranked in the final ESPN 100 rankings for the 2024 class.

It’s a similar story to his brother, Scotty Pippen Jr., who emerged as a star at Vanderbilt after being underrecruited coming out of high school and played in 21 games for the Memphis Grizzlies this season.

His family fully supported his decision to attend Michigan.

“They let me make my own decision,” Justin said. “They know it’s great academically. They both spoke with Coach May.”

Pippen is one of the most improved prospects in the nation. He worked on his shooting accuracy, refined his ballhandling skills and sharpened his ability to read ball screens in the offseason. He has developed a keen scoring instinct and an aptitude for creating opportunities for his teammates.

Pippen is the first pickup since May moved to Michigan, although the Wolverines are in the mix for a long list of transfers. They’re currently pursuing the likes of Florida Atlantic’s Johnell Davis and Vladislav Goldin, Ohio State’s Roddy Gayle Jr., Auburn’s Tre Donaldson and Yale’s Danny Wolf.

Michigan returns to the Big House at a remarkable moment in its history: fresh off winning its first national championship this century, but also undergoing major turnover both at head coach and across its roster.

Now, Sherrone Moore replaces Jim Harbaugh with plenty to do on his checklist moving into a historic 2024 season full of conference realignment and an expanded playoff. Here is how, and what, you should watch as the Michigan spring football game kicks off.

Michigan football spring game 2024 schedule

When: Sat., April 20
Time: 12 p.m. Eastern
TV: Fox network

Offensive line rebuild

The unit that won two straight Joe Moore awards is gone, and now Michigan faces a structural rebuild up front, as all five starters are out of the picture. Myles Hinton, who saw five games at mostly left tackle a year ago, returns, but otherwise the unit is sorely lacking in experience.

New offensive line coach Grant Newsome has plenty of work to do in his debut at the position and Saturday’s spring game will give him a chance to try just about any combination.

Andrew Gentry started mostly on special teams, but logged snaps at both tackle spots and guard. Greg Crippen, a senior and three-time letterman, has played 15 total games at center. Jeff Persi has special teams experience at tackle and guard.

Michigan Football Schedule 2024

Wide receiver

Another area of need after the departure of Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson to the NFL Draft, the Wolverines need to get a close look at every possible option.

Semaj Morgan has shown promise in the return game, but may not have the size to emerge as a downfield threat. Tyler Morris has over 200 career yards and, though he lacks experience, he is Michigan’s veteran at the position.

Defense

Like its roster, Michigan’s coaching staff is undergoing major change, especially defensively, as new coordinator Wink Martindale steps in, aided by three assistants who all coached somewhere else last season. UM fielded college football’s best defense a year ago, and while the unit loses plenty of production, the return of cornerback Will Johnson and linemen Kenneth Grant and Will Graham are key.

Watch for the competition in the corner opposite Johnson. DJ Waller comes into his sophomore season with 11 games in the secondary and on special teams a year ago. Ja’Den McBurrows, who played 11 games in the secondary and snagged an interception last season, and Jyaire Hill, a two-way player in high school with speed and good hands, are in contention this spring.

Quarterback

J.J. McCarthy is out, leaving Moore with a huge decision to make at the most important position. Alex Orji and Jadyn Davis stick out as options, but the former, while known as a promising dual threat, is yet to throw that many important passes; and the latter is just a freshman, albeit one with huge potential. Veteran Jack Tuttle is in the mix, but is he ready to inherit the QB1 role?

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