Any time it felt like the opposition began to get momentum, the Huskies’ offense delivered.

The bats were wide awake for the No. 6 Washington softball team, delivering big innings in both games as it defeated No. 18 Kentucky and Minnesota on Friday. The Huskies defeated the Wildcats 8-1 before overpowering the Gophers 12-4.

Outscoring opponents 20-5, Washington’s offense looked as good as ever with contributions everywhere in the lineup. It was nearly a perfect start to the weekend for the Huskies as they hope to carry their momentum into Saturday and Sunday.

Brooke and Ruby shut down Kentucky behind Washington’s explosive fifth inning.

With the Huskies clinging to a 2-1 lead heading into the top of the fifth, the offense erupted for six runs in the fifth inning to drive them to an 8-1 victory. Every offensive starter contributed, reaching base by either getting a hit or drawing a walk.

Brooke Nelson was great in the circle to start the game, tossing two hitless innings while striking out one and walking two. Sophomore Ruby Meylan (2-1) picked up the win the rest of the way, striking out six batters in five innings while giving up three hits and four walks. Kentucky’s lone run was unearned.

Jillian Celis led the way, batting 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. Avery Hobson went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, while Sydney Stewart crushed a solo home run.

Stewart got the scoring started for the Huskies with a solo shot to left field in the second, and Celis followed with one of her own in the third inning to jump to a 2-0 lead. The Wildcats hit an RBI double in the third inning to cut the lead to 2-1, but that was the only time they would cross home plate.

The offense came alive in the fifth, with sophomore Brooklyn Carter knocking in an RBI single before Celis followed up with a two-RBI single of her own. A wild pitch scored Celis with one out, and Avery Hobson put the icing on the cake with a two-RBI triple with two outs to extend the lead to 8-1.

Meylan closed it out to improve her ERA to .43 on the season.

Olivia Johnson headlines a complete offensive performance for Washington over Minnesota.

Minnesota drew the first blood with a one-run lead in the second until Washington exploded for five runs in the third, riding the momentum to a 12-4 victory.

Freshman Sidne Peters (2-0) delivered the win in the circle, pitching three innings while giving up two runs on three hits, a pair of walks, and two strikeouts. Senior Lindsay Lopez sealed the deal for the Huskies, pitching four innings while striking out two, giving up four hits, two walks, and a run.

It was a big game for junior Olivia Johnson, who went 3 for 4 with four RBIs and a double. Seven different Huskies delivered multiple hits in what was a complete offensive performance all around.

Minnesota capitalized on an RBI double to take the lead in the second inning, but the Huskies quickly turned the momentum with a massive third inning.

O. Johnson delivered a 2-RBI single to left field to take a 2-1 lead, and Nelson followed with a 2-RBI double down the left field line to double the Huskies score. An RBI groundout from junior Kinsey Fiedler catapulted the Huskies to a 5-1 lead to end the inning.

Minnesota scored a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the third to cut into the lead, but O. Johnson immediately followed with a 2-RBI double of her own in the fourth. Minnesota scored two more runs in the bottom frame with back-to-back RBI singles, but Washington took over from that moment on.

The Huskies scored in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, with RBI singles in the sixth and seventh innings for freshman Giselle Alvarez for her first and second career RBIs. The Huskies held on to pull off the victory 12-4 and tremendously open their weekend.

Washington will face Wisconsin at 7 am and LSU at 2 pm on Saturday.