Huskers Fall 3-2 in Eight Innings

Fullerton, Calif. ? Penn State scored the game-winning run on an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning to upset the 18th-ranked Nebraska softball team, 3-2, on Friday in bracket play at the Kia Klassic in Fullerton, Calif.

 

The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for NU (18-6). Sophomore right-hander Ashley DeBuhr (9-5) took the loss in relief of freshman starter Jordan Keen. DeBuhr allowed two unearned runs in 3.1 innings of work. Missy Beseres (6-5) earned the win in relief for the Nittany Lion (11-8).

 

PSU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. The inning started with a hit batter and pinch runner Steph Viola advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. She scored on an RBI single by Jen Acunto.

 

The game remained 1-0 when rain came with one out in the top of the fourth inning. Following a 23-minute rain delay, sophomore Jamie Waldecker took the first pitch deep to left field for a game-tying solo home run. Junior Trisha Tannahill followed with an infield single, but was thrown out attempting to steal second. Junior Katie Linke then singled and came home on an RBI double to the gap in left-center field off the bat of sophomore Devin Porter.

 

Penn State tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fifth in DeBuhr’s first inning of work. Acunto doubled to right field to start the inning and came home when Nebraska committed an error on a bunt by the next hitter, allowing Acunto to score from second.

 

Both teams had chances to take the lead in the seventh and eight innings.

 

In the top of the seventh, junior KoKo Tacha drew a leadoff walk and senior Anne Steffan followed with an infield single. With runners on first and second, junior Jessica Yoachim sent a ground ball to third, where PSU forced out Tacha at third base.

 

Junior Elizabeth Rock then singled to load the bases for the heart of the Husker order. Senior Sheena Lawrick fouled out to the catcher and Waldecker struck out swinging to end the inning.

 

Like the Huskers, PennState put the first two runners on base before DeBuhr posted two consecutive strikeouts. With runners on first and second and two outs, Leigh Murray singled to right field, but a perfect throw from Rock in right field nailed Acunto at the plate to force extra innings.

 

In the eighth, pinch runner Carmen Kier was placed on second, but NU failed to advance her after strikeouts from Tannahill and Linke and a pop out by Porter.

 

PSU earned the victory in the eighth inning. Jen Reynolds sacrificed Murray to third with a bunt and Katie Stauffer singled to right to bring Murray home with the winning run.

 

For the game, both teams left 10 runners on base. Steffan went 2-for-4 to lead Nebraska offensively, extending her school-record hitting streak to 21 consecutive games.

 

Nebraska is scheduled to wrap up pool play this evening with an 8:15 p.m. (CST) game against DePaul.