Seven-Run First Propels Huskers to Victory

Tallahassee, Fla. ? Senior Lizzy Aumua’s bases-loaded triple capped a seven-run first inning as the 15th-ranked Nebraska softball team pounded out a 11-6 victory over St. John's Friday at the Florida State Invitational.

 

Nebraska (13-3) improved to 1-1 at the tournament, rebounding from a morning loss to No. 25 North Carolina. Freshman right-hander Molly Hill (8-1) earned the win, despite a shaky start. Hill tossed a complete game, allowing six runs (four earned) on nine hits. After St. John's scored four runs in the top of the first, Hill surrendered just two unearned runs the rest of the way.

 

Offensively, Nebraska batted around in the first and third innings, scoring 11 runs on eight hits in those two frames alone.

 

Aumua finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while fellow senior Jessica Yoachim finished 4-for-5 with three stolen bases to give the Huskers a potent combination at the top of the order. Hitting cleanup, freshman Crystal Carwile also enjoyed a solid performance, finishing 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.

 

After being frustrated offensively in the first game, Nebraska exploded for seven runs in the top of the first. Yoachim reached on a one-out single to start a string of five straight Huskers to reach base. Junior Jamie Waldecker walked and Carwile followed with a single to left to load the bases.

 

Senior Trisha Tannahill and freshman Brittany Pascale were each hit by a pitch to score Yoachim and Waldecker. After a strikeout, freshman Meghan Mullin picked up the first RBI of her career with an infield single that scored Carwile. Junior Carmen Kier then drew an RBI walk that scored Tannahill and put NU up 4-0.

 

With the bases still loaded, Aumua tripled over the left fielder’s head to clear the bases and push the Huskers’ lead to 7-0.

 

St. John’s answered back in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs of its own. Tami Hill led off with a double and she scored when Amanda Oliver reached on an infield single, but the ball got past Kier at third, allowing Hill to score. Jo Sherlock then singled to put two runners aboard for Lauren Lupinetti, who belted a three-run home run to deep left field.

The Huskers added four more runs in the third. With Mullin on second and one out, Kier drew her second walk of the game and Aumua followed with an infield single to load the bases for Yoachim. Yoachim reached on an infield single that scored Mullin and Kier also came home on a throwing error by the shortstop.

 

Leading 9-4, Carwile lined a clutch two-out single up the middle to score Aumua and Yoachim and push the Huskers lead to seven.

 

The Red Storm added another run in the bottom of the fourth. Lupinetti reached on a two-base throwing error to lead off and pinch runner Bionka King advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball.

 

St. John’s got even closer in the bottom of the fifth. Oliver reached on a one-out fielder’s choice and advanced to third on a throwing error after the following batter hit a grounder to short. Oliver scored to make it 11-6 on an RBI single from Lupinetti. SJU had the bases loaded with only one out before Hill coaxed a pop out and a line out to end the inning.

 

The Huskers looked to add more in the top of the sevent when they loaded the bases but were unable to push a run across.

 

Nebraska returns to action tomorrow at 9 a.m. (central) against Florida A&M in the final game of pool play. Bracket play is schedule to begin tomorrow afternoon.