Nebraska Goes 0-2 at Utah Tournament

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Salt Lake City - The Huskers went 0-2 in the first day of play at the Utah Tournament on Friday, Sept. 19.  Washington defeated Nebraska in the first game, 5-1, before the Huskers would fall to the host Utes in the second game, 8-6.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Washington jumped off to an early start in the first inning when two players each hit two-run homers.  Huskies starter Ashley Boek would hold Nebraska scoreless until the seventh inning to take the win. Trisha Tannahill slammed a home run to right center in the seventh inning to muster the Huskers' only run of the game.

 

Nebraska's starting pitcher, Peaches James, would strike out ten Huskies in five innings of action to take the loss.  Husker reliever Ashley DeBuhr would strike out three Washington batters in a row during the sixth and struck out four in her two innings of relief. 

 

 

In the second game Utah scored three runs in the second inning, two of which were back to back solo home runs. 

 

Jessica Yoachim placed herself in scoring position in the third by advancing to first base by an error on the shortstop and then stealing second.  Nicole Trimboli hit a double RBI to drive Yoachim home.

 

Utah would answer the Huskers run in the third with three more of their own.  Lead off hitter Melissa Stahnke hit a solo homer.  Designated player Brianna Gourdin hit a three-run homer that turned into two runs due to being greeted by her teammates prior to touching home plate.

 

The Huskers loaded the bases in the fourth before Liz Lawhorn was picked off by the third baseman.  Summer Tobias, who pitched five innings and took the loss for NU, and Jocelyn Evans bothhit a single RBI to drive in Tannahill and Brittney Yolo, cutting Utah's lead in half.

 

The Utes made the margin wider by scoring two more runs in the fourth inning.

 

The Huskers made some noise in the fifth by scoring three runs.  KoKo Tacha led off the inning with a single to right field.  Lawhorn and Tannahill then reached base on a hit-by-pitch and a fielder's choice, respectively.  The Utes then committed an error, helping the Huskers score the next two runs.  Steffan drove in the Huskers' fourth run of the game while reaching first on an error.  Lawhorn scored on a wild throw by pitcher Heather Bowlin and Tannahill advance home on an error by the catcher.  The Huskers cut Utes lead to only two, bringing the score to the final, 8-6.

 

Bowlin took the win for the Utes while pitching seven innings and striking out four.  Huskers' reliever James threw 2.2 innings, striking out four.

 

The Huskers return to action on Saturday, Sept. 20, in a double-header versus Utah at 2:30 p.m. and Utah State at 5 p.m. in Salt Lake City.