Tacha's Home Run Lifts Huskers to 2-1 Win

Las Cruces, N.M. ? Junior KoKo Tacha broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning with a solo home run to center field on a 3-1 pitch to life the 19th-ranked Nebraska softball team to a 2-1 win in the opening game of the Troy Cox Classic at the New Mexico State Softball Complex in Las Cruces, N.M. NU improved to 3-1 with the win and Colorado State dropped to 4-5.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Freshman right-hander Jordan Keen was impressive again in just her third start. Keen (3-0) did not allow an earned run on six hits in her second complete-game effort of her career. She saw her scoreless innings streak end at 10.2 innings with an unearned run in the second inning, but extended her streak to 16.2 innings without allowing an earned run.

 

Defensively, NU made up for two errors and the unearned run by turning in a season-high two double plays.

 

The Huskers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior Jessica Yoachim reached on a one-out infield single and advanced to third on two wild pitches by Wood. Yoachim came home with the first run of the game on a double down the right field line by senior Sheena Lawrick. NU nearly added a second run in the frame when junior Trisha Tannahill singled to center field with Lawrick on second. Lawrick tried to score on the play but was thrown out at home plate.

 

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Colorado State tied the game in the bottom of the second. Following back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt, CSU had runners on second and third with two outs. Brittany Huerta sent a grounder to short that Steffan was unable to handle and Julia Kloppe scored on the error tie the game at 1-1.

 

Following Tacha’s home run, the Rams threatened in the bottom of the fifth. After back-to-back singles and a throwing error on Steffan, ColoradoState had runners at first and third with no outs. An attempted squeeze failed when Lawrick made a great play to get Huerta at home. Keen then coaxed a foul out and a ground out to end the threat.

 

Offensively, Lawrick finished 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Huskers and freshman Cassie Kleinsmith recorded the first multi-hit game of her career with a 2-for-3 effort.

 

Nebraska plays again immediately with a contest against Loyola-Chicago with first pitch scheduled for approximately 5 p.m. (CST).