Huskers Run-Rule Canadian National Team

Lincoln --- A pair of freshman led the Nebraska softball team to a dominating 9-1, six-inning run-rule victory over the Canadian National Team Sunday at Bowlin Stadium on the final day of the Husker Fall Classic. The loss was the first in five games for Team Canada, which is training at Bowlin Stadium in preparation for the Pan American Championship in November.

 

Freshman right-hander Molly Hill picked up the victory, tossing a complete-game three-hitter. Hill stuck out nine in six innings of work and allowed only one hit after the second inning. While Hill was impressive in the circle, another freshman, Crystal Carwile, was equally impressive at the plate. Carwile reached base in all four plate appearances, finishing 3-for-3 with a walk, a double and two RBIs.

 

Canada took an early lead in the bottom of the first before Hill settled down. Two hit batters and a walk loaded the bases with no outs for Alison Bradley. Bradley fell behind in the count 0-2, before singling through the right side to score Rachel Schill. Brittany Freight attempted to score from second on the play, but a perfect throw from senior Lizzy Aumua in right field nailed Freight at the plate. Hill then struck out the next two Canadian hitters to keep the score 1-0.

 

In the top of the second, an error, a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases for Carwile, who promptly lined a 1-0 pitch into center field to score freshman pinch runner Meghan Mullin with the tying run. With one out, senior Jessica Yoachim hit a ground ball to second where Canada’s Erin McLean threw home and barely recorded the force out on junior Devin Porter.

 

Aumua then coaxed a walk to bring home Porter and give the Huskers a 2-1 lead. The run marked the first time in five games this week that Team Canada trailed during a game. Senior Trisha Tannahill flew out to the wall in left field to end the inning.

 

The Huskers plated another run in the top of the fourth. Carwile began the frame with a double to left center. Freshman Kimberly Fuller then sacrificed the pinch runner Mullin to third. Yoachim followed with an infield single, but Mullin was unable to score on the play. With runners at the corners, Aumua laid down a bunt to bring Mullin home and make the score 3-1 in favor of NU.

 

In the sixth, the Huskers loaded the bases with one out after Carwile walked, Yoachim singled and Aumua reached on an error. Tannahill then blooped a single over the shortstop’s head to score freshman pinch runner Darcy Rutherford with Nebraska’s fourth run of the game.

 

Waldecker then drove in Yoachim and Aumua with a single to right field on a 3-2 pitch, after falling behind 1-2 early in the count. Tannahill advanced to third on the play and Waldecker advanced to second on the throw home. Senior Katie Linke was up next and drove in two runs with another single to right field that gave the Huskers their fifth run of the inning and a commanding 8-1 lead.

 

NU batted around in the frame and Carwile capped a perfect game at the plate by lining a single to center field that scored junior pinch runner Jaime Borg to put the run-rule in effect.

 

Hill allowed a one-out double in the bottom of the inning ? the first hit she allowed since the second inning ? but came back to strike out the final two hitters and cap an impressive outing.

 

For the game, the Huskers outhit the Canadian National Team, 10-3, while playing error-free ball. Seven Huskers collected a hit, while four recorded multi-RBI games.

 

Robin Mackin took the loss for Canada, allowing three runs (one earned) in four innings of work. Former All-Big 12 pitcher LaurenBay pitched the final two innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits.