Notre Dame Eliminates NU from NFCA Leadoff Classic

Columbus, Ga. ?  The Nebraska defense held Notre Dame scoreless for six innings after allowing an unearned run in the top of the first, but it was all the Fighting Irish would need to pull off a 1-0 upset Sunday afternoon in one of two silver bracket semifinals at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

 

With the loss, Nebraska fell to 8-7 on the season and was eliminated from tournament play. The loss was Nebraska’s second one-run defeat of the tournament. NU finished the weekend with a 2-3 record, falling to No. 7 Michigan, Georgia Tech and the Fighting Irish but defeating Virginia Tech and upsetting No. 3 California.

 

The defeat was also NU’s second of the season to Notre Dame. The Huskers fell to the Irish, 6-4, Feb. 14 at the UNLV Classic.

 

Sophomore right-hander Summer Tobias (1-3) took the loss Sunday, as she did not give up an earned run but allowed five hits in her third complete game of the season.

 

Notre Dame pitcher Heather Booth (5-1) picked up the win, holding the Huskers scoreless on four hits

 

Nebraska trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitter Katie Linke struck out, pinch hitter Jocelyn Evans grounded out to second, and Tobias grounded out to second to end the game.

 

Notre Dame took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, benefiting from the miscommunication of the Nebraska defense. With one out, freshman catch Jamie Waldecker attempted to pick off Sara Schoonaert at second, but no Husker defender covered the base, and the throw flew into center field. Schoonaert rounded third and scored on the error.

 

The Husker defense stepped up in the third inning. With one out, Wicks doubled to left, and Brown followed with a single to put runners at the corners. After Stephanie Brown stole second, Anne Steffan fielded a hard-hit grounder by Schoonaert and threw out Nicole Wicks at home. Megan Ciolli then grounded out to end the inning.

 

Nebraska missed on an opportunity to score in the bottom of the third. Tobias led off and ripped an 0-2 pitch down the right field line for a double -- the first hit of her collegiate career. Devin Porter followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Tobias to third. After Steffan singled, Sheena Lawrick bunted and reached first safely, but pinch runner KoKo Tacha was thrown out at home. NU stranded two runners after Nicole Trimboli grounded out to third.

 

The Huskers also nearly broke through in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings. In the fourth, Trisha Tannahill led off and drilled a shot to right field, but it was caught at the warning track. Waldecker launched a hit over the right fielder, but was thrown out at second. Lawhorn grounded out to end the inning.

 

In the sixth, after Lawrick walked, Tannahill ripped a two-out single to right, then advanced to second. With two runners in scoring position, Waldecker lined out to third.

 

Nebraska returns to action March 6-7 at the Hampton Inn Classic in Lawrence, Kan.