Lawrick's Three RBIs Leads NU to Victory

Lincoln ? Following a 40-minute rain delay, the Nebraska softball team took the first game of a doubleheader from Northern Colorado, using a two-run fifth inning to erase a one-run deficit in a 3-2 victory at Bowlin Stadium.

 

Freshman right-hander Jordan Keen (9-2) earned the win for NU, which improved to 28-16 overall. Keen allowed just two runs (one earned) on eight hits in a complete-game performance.

 

Kelsey Dumler (6-14) took the loss for Northern Colorado (10-22).

 

Offensively for Nebraska, senior Sheena Lawrick went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Freshman Cassie Kleinsmith tied a career high by recording two hits, finishing 2-for-2. Senior Anne Steffan and junior Jessica Yoachim also recorded multi-hit games for the Huskers.

 

After being shutout on Wednesday, NU struck quickly against the Bears. Yoachim reached on a one-out infield single, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice from fellow junior Elizabeth Rock. Yoachim then came home on an RBI single from Lawrick.

 

UNC answered in the top of the third. Casey Hogue singled with two outs and came home on a run-scoring double off the bat of Whitney Platten.

 

The Huskers threatened in the bottom of the inning but were unable to push a run across. Kleinsmith led off with a single and stole second. She was then ruled out after colliding with the shortstop on a ground ball off the bat of Steffan. Steffan stole second and advanced to third on a single by Yoachim. Yoachim promptly stole second to put runners on second and third with only one out, but Rock grounded out to the pitcher and Lawrick flew out to left to end the inning.

 

Northern Colorado scored another run in the top of the fourth inning to take a 2-1 lead. A fielding error prolonged the inning for Ashley Martinosky to hit an RBI double off the wall in right field, scoring Stephani Miller.

 

Junior Trisha Tannahill led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, but NU was unable to advance her any further.

 

NU regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kleinsmith led off with a single and Steffan followed with another single. The runners moved up to second and third on a sacrifice from Yoachim and were still there with two outs after pinch hitter KoKo Tacha struck out. Lawrick then came through with a line drive into centerfield that scored Kleinsmith and Steffan to put the Huskers up 3-2.

 

Mackenzie Barrett led off the sixth with a double for the Bears, but UNC was unable to capitalize. Keen coaxed a pop out and then NU turned an inning ending double play when Kati Miller grounded out to short and the Huskers threw to third to get Barrett.

 

The teams are currently playing the second game of the doubleheader.