Huskers Fall to Canada in 12 Innings

Lincoln ? Erin Cumpstone lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Noemie Marin in the top of the 12th inning and the Canadian National Team held on for a 2-1 victory over Nebraska Sunday in the final game of the Husker Fall Classic at Bowlin Stadium.

 

Marin began the inning on second and moved over to third on former Husker Sheena Lawrick’s sacrifice. Alison Bradley then walked to put runners on the corners before Cumpstone’s bloop into right field. Centerfielder Lizzy Aumua, who had an outfield assist in the 10th inning to save a run at the plate, threw home but Marin dove around the tag and was called safe to give Canada a one-run cushion.

 

Auburn Sigurdson then retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame as Canada rebounded from a 9-1 loss to the Huskers in the first game of the doubleheader. Sigurdson went 8.0 innings of relief allowing one hit while striking out 12. The only hit Sigurdson allowed was in the fifth inning to the first batter she faced, Jessica Yoachim, but she allowed eight walks as the Huskers left 17 on base.

 

Nebraska got off to a strong start by tallying in a run in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. After a 3-for-3 day with a walk, a double and two RBIs in the opener, freshman Crystal Carwile lined a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right field for a solo home run to give NU a one-run cushion.

 

In the bottom of the third, the Huskers mounted a two-out rally. Aumua reached on an infield single and fellow seniors Trisha Tannahill and Katie Linke drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for Carwile. Carwile popped up to short on the first pitch she saw to end the threat. The pop out marked the first time Carwile was retired in six at bats against Team Canada.

 

Canada tied the contest in the top of the sixth. Kristy Odamura reached on a one-out double to snap Ashley DeBuhr’s streak of 12 consecutive batters retired. Marin then beat out a bunt single to put runners on the corners for the middle of the order. After a foul out, Marin stole second and Odamura came home when the Huskers cut off the throw to second in an attempt to get Odamura at home, but the throw was late. DeBuhr retired the next hitter to keep the game tied at 1-1.

 

In the bottom of the seventh, junior pinch hitter Jamie Waldecker drew a leadoff walk to put the winning run on first base in the form of freshman pinch runner Meghan Mullin. Canada then picked up a big double play when senior KoKo Tacha struck out and Mullin was thrown out attempting to steal second.

 

The international tie breaker rule went into effect in the eighth inning, meaning each team began its inning with a runner placed on second base.

 

Canada had the first chance at breaking the tie in the top of the 10th. Pinch runner Rachel Schill was placed on second and she attempted to score on a single from Erin Gee, but Aumua threw her out with a perfect throw from center field. Schill advanced to second but was stranded there as DeBuhr struck out the next two hitters.

 

In the bottom of the 11th, the Huskers loaded the bases with no outs. Pinch runner Rutherford was then tagged out in a rundown between third and home when the squeeze play was on and the pitch was in the dirt. Tacha then popped out to the catcher before Yoachim grounded out on a bang-bang play at first.