Huskers Fall 5-2 in Hard-Fought Game

Lincoln ? The Nebraska softball team took a 2-1 lead in the second inning but couldn't hold on as defending national champion Michigan scored two runs in the third and two more in the fourth to defeat the Huskers 5-2 in the second game of the 2005 Husker Fall Classic in front of 564 fans at Bowlin Stadium Friday night.

 

Samantha Findlay belted a solo home run with one out in the top of the first to stake Michigan to an early 1-0 lead, but Husker freshman right-hander Molly Hill finished the inning without any further damage.

 

In the bottom of the second, junior Jamie Waldecker and freshman Brittany Pascale led off with back-to-back singles for Nebraska. Junior Carmen Kier then perfectly executed a sacrifice bunt that advanced freshman pinch runner Meghan Mullin to third and Pascale to second, where she was lifted for freshman pinch runner Darcy Rutherford.

 

With two outs, junior Devin Porter sent a ground ball to second, where Tiffany Haas fielded the ball cleanly but threw wildly to first. Mullin and Rutherford each came home on the throwing error to give the Huskers a 2-1 lead.

 

The Wolverines answered back in the top of the third. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs. Tiffany Worthy then blooped a two-strike single just over NU third baseman Carmen Kier’s head to score two and give Michigan the 3-2 lead.

 

A two-out, two-run home run by Alessandra Giampaolo in the top of the fourth pushed Michigan’s lead to 5-2. Hill closed the door on the Wolverines after the home run by pitching three scoreless innings to finish the game.

 

Nebraska sent the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.  With one out, Kier walked and moved to second with two outs on an infield single by Porter.  The threat was stopped when senior Koko Tacha lost a eight-pitch at bat and struck out to end the game.

 

Hill pitched a complete game for NU, allowing five runs on seven hits. She finished with nine strikeouts, but walked five. Stacy Delaney earned the win for Michigan, allowing two unearned runs in six innings.

 

Prior to the game, senior outfielder Lizzy Aumua was awarded the 2005-06 Richard Raimondi Memorial Scholarship in an on-field ceremony. Aumua carries a 3.927 grade-point average as a sociology major.

 

In game one of the Husker Fall Classic, the Canadian National Team defeated ColoradoState, 1-0. The Classic resumes Saturday when Michigan and ColoradoState square off at 10 a.m. Nebraska’s first game Saturday is set for 2 p.m. against Creighton.

 

Friday’s Husker Fall Classic Results

Canada 1, ColoradoState 0

Michigan 5, Nebraska 2

 

Saturday’s Husker Fall Classic Schedule

Michigan vs. ColoradoState, 10 a.m.

Creighton vs. ColoradoState, Noon

Creighton vs. Nebraska, 2 p.m.

Michigan vs. Nebraska, 4 p.m.

Michigan vs. Canada, 6 p.m.