Huskers Zip Past Akron

Lincoln - Junior Carmen Kier snagged two home runs in the fourth and fifth inning as the 16th-ranked Nebraska softball team defeated Akron for its second win of the Big Red tournament, 10-2, in five innings at Bowlin Stadium.

 

The win improved the Huskers to 20-4 on the season, while Akron dropped to 6-9. Nebraska reached the 20-win mark in only 24 games, becoming the fastest team in school history to record 20 victories in a season. The 2002 squad had been the fastest, taking 25 games before it picked up win No. 20.

 

Kier was the star at the plate as she finished 2-for-3 with two home runs and a pair of RBIs. It was the first multi-homer game of Kier's career, as she had three career home runs entering the game.

 

Senior Lizza Aumua finished 3-for-3 at bat and scored two runs, while fellow senior Jessica Yoachim finished with a 2-for-2 effort at bat and also scored twice. Junior Jamie Waldecker also finished with two hits, while freshman Crystal Carwile went 2-for-3 with a game-high three RBIs.

 

In the circle, freshman right-hander Molly Hill continued the impressive start to her career. Hill allowed just one earned run on five hits in a complete-game effort that improved her record to 11-1 on the season.

 

Megan MacKenzie (3-7) took the loss for Akron, allowed 10 runs on 12 hits in four innings of work.

                                                                                                           

The Huskers started out strong at the bat with a three-run first inning. Aumua snagged an infield single to lead off before Yoachim walked and Waldecker matched with a single, bringing in Aumua.

 

Senior Trisha Tannahill was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. After Akron recorded a force out at home, junior Devin Porter reached on a fielder's choice and got an RBI when Waldecker came home on the play. Tannahill then scored the third run of the inning when freshman Meghan Mullin was hit by a pitch.

 

The Huskers went up 4-0 in the second inning as Yoachim singled to shortstop and scored on a single through the right side from Carwile.

 

The Zips climbed back into the game with a two-run third inning led by a single up the middle from freshman Julie Boyes, who eventually scored on fielder’s choice from junior Carrese Moody.

 

The Huskers answered in the fourth inning as Kier powered her first home run over the left field on the first pitch of the inning. The Huskers added four more on runs from Yoachim, Aumua and junior pinch runner Jaime Borg. Aumua and Yoachim scored on a bases-loaded, two-run single off the bat of Carwile and Borg scored

 

Kier wrapped up the run-rule victory with her second home run of the game and third of the season on the second pitch of the fifth inning.

 

The Big Red Tournament is scheduled to continue Saturday with game No. 1 of a triple-header, as North DakotaState faces Akron at 11 a.m. The second day of the tournament will conclude with the Huskers taking on the Zips at 4:30 p.m.