Huskers Fall to No. 7 Michigan, 5-1

Columbus, Ga. ? Seventh-ranked Michigan used a four-run eighth inning to defeat the 14th-ranked Nebraska softball team, 5-1, Friday afternoon  in the opening round of the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

 

With the loss, Nebraska fell to 6-5 overall, while Michigan improved to 10-3. NU, which defeated Michigan, 5-4, Feb. 14 at the UNLV Classic in Las Vegas, continues action at South Commons Stadium tonight when they take on Georgia Tech at 6:30 p.m. The game marks the first ever meeting between NU and the Yellow Jackets.

 

 

Nebraska trailed, 1-0, after the top of the seventh, but senior outfielder Nicole Trimboli tied the score when she ripped a solo shot over the right field fence for her second home run of the year. However, in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded, Michigan’s Meghan Doe sent a ground ball to left for a three-run single. Jessica Merchant provided the final run with an RBI single.

 

The Huskers couldn’t answer, going three up, three down in the bottom the inning. Senior right-hander Meghan Ritter was the winning pitcher, allowing one run on three hits and striking out eight Huskers in eight innings.

 

For Nebraska, senior right-hander Peaches James (4-3)  took the loss, giving up five runs on four hits while striking out seven. James held the Wolverines hitless for the first four innings and scoreless until the top of the seventh.

 

Sophomore left fielder Trisha Tannahill led NU offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double to account for two of the Huskers’ three hits.

 

Michigan’s Jennifer Olds broke open a scoreless game in the top of the seventh when she knocked a 1-1 pitch out of the park for a solo home run. But Nebraska even the score in the bottom of the seventh when Trimboli led off and smacked a 1-0 pitch high over the right field fence.

 

In the top of the eight, Michigan sent Courtney Betley to second per the international tiebreaker rule. Angie Churchill attempted to advance Betley with a bunt, but Yoachim threw out Betley at third. Worthy then bunted and reached first safely. With two runners on and one out, Michelle Teschler flied out to center, but James walked Hass to load the bases for Doe. The senior outfielder produced a three-run double to give the Wolverines a 4-1 lead. Jessica Merchant finished the scoring with an RBI single.

 

In the bottom of the eighth, James popped up, pinch hitter Jocelyn Evans lined out to short, and pinch hitter Summer Tobias struck out.

 

Nebraska missed on opportunities to score in the bottom of the second and fifth innings. With one out in the bottom of the second, Tannahill smacked a 1-0 pitch to left field for a double, but designated player Katie Linke and James followed with back-to-back ground outs to end the inning.