Huskers Fall to No. 2 UCLA, BYU

Las Vegas, Nev. - The No. 12 Nebraska softball team suffered its first back-to-back losses of the season, falling to unranked BYU, 9-7, before dropping an 11-2, five-inning loss to No. 2 UCLA Saturday at the 2002 UNLV Classic.

The Huskers (5-4) conclude tournament action at the Desert Breeze Softball Complex Sunday when they face No. 18 Oregon State at 11:30 a.m.

The Huskers opened the day with a 9-7 upset loss to unranked BYU. NU led 6-3 after the top of the third, but the Cougars’ Brooke Cadiente smashed a grand slam home run in the bottom of the inning for a one-run BYU lead. Nebraska tied the score at 7-7 in the top of the fifth after an RBI single by Kim Ogee. The Cougars answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and held NU scoreless the final two innings.

NU sophomore Peaches James (2-3) entered the game in the third inning and took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in the final 3.2 innings of the game. Leigh Ann Walker started the game and allowed six runs, including five earned, off three hits. The two combined to give up three home runs.

James led the Huskers offensively against the Cougars, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Junior left fielder Lisa Wangler was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Nebraska took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Wangler sent the first pitch she saw to left center for a two-out double, scoring Amanda Buchholz, who walked to lead off the inning, and James, who singled.

BYU answered in the bottom of the inning. Keohohou’s leadoff home run - the first off Walker in 2002 -- cut the Huskers’ advantage to one run. Walker walked Brooke Cadiente, and Lauren Watson reached on a fielder’s choice. Kari Pringle grounded out, but advanced Watson to second. The Cougars’ Kate Walker then knocked a two-out homer high over the left field fence to plate Watson and give BYU a 3-2 lead.

Nebraska responded in the top of the third, batting through the order for a four-run inning. Capra walked Amber Burgess and Nicole Trimboli, and Leigh Suhr reached on an error to load the bases for Amanda Buchholz, who ripped an RBI single to right to tie the score at 3-3. James followed with another single to right, plating Trimboli, the go-ahead run, and Suhr. After James was called out for leaving early on a steal attempt, sophomore Liz Lawhorn drove in NU’s fourth run of the inning with a double to center for the 6-3 advantage.

Brigham Young wasn’t finished, though. With runners on first and second and one out, the Huskers opted to intentionally walk Keohohou to load the bases for Cadiente. Nebraska’s James moved from first to pitcher to relieve Walker. Cadiente then took the first pitch from James and smacked a grand slam home run to give BYU a 7-6 lead.

The Huskers tied it up in the bottom of the fifth. Wangler reached on a two-out bunt and stole second. Ogee ripped an RBI single to center to make it 7-7, but the Cougars added two more runs in the bottom of the inning off a two-RBI single by Watson.

In the nightcap, UCLA took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Amanda Freed laced a two-out double to center and plated Toria Auelua and Stephanie Ramos. Then, after a scoreless third inning, the Bruins tallied eight runs in the top of the fourth, highlighted by grand slam home run by Claire Sua.

Nebraska got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Burgess notched the Huskers’ first hit of the game with a two-out single to left, and Trimboli followed with her first homer of the year, a two-run blast over the left field fence.

The Bruins all but put the game out of reach in the top of the fifth. Natasha Watley smacked a two-run blast - her first home run of the year - to make it 10-2. Freed followed with a solo shot to left center to make it 11-2.

Walker (3-1) was the losing pitcher for NU, allowing 11 runs on nine hits. Freed was the winning pitcher, giving up two runs on four hits.