Huskers Drop Two at Worth Classic

South Bend, Ind. - A few mistakes and a pair of untimely hits cost the Nebraska softball team a pair of games at the Worth Classic in South Bend, Ind., on Saturday. The Huskers fell to host Notre Dame, 2-1, in eight innings in the first game before dropping a 5-3 decision to Illinois State in game two.

In the first game, sophomore right-hander Molly Hill pitched a solid game, but was tagged with the loss. Hill struck out nine and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, before Notre Dame tied the game with a two-out single and double to force extra innings. With the tiebreaker rule in effect in the eighth, NU was unable to score and the Irish used an error and a game-winning single to earn the win.

The Huskers manufactured their lone run of the game. Senior Devin Porter led off with a single up the middle and moved up to second on a sacrifice from sophomore Meghan Mullin. Porter then scored when sophomore Brittany Pascale laced a double to left center to score Porter.

Nebraska exploded for three runs in the first inning of game two, but was unable to hold on to the lead. In the first, it was another double by Pascale and a two-run double off the bat of senior Carmen Kier that did the damage. After scoring quickly, the Huskers would be frustrated the rest of the night, despite nine hits and four Flame errors.

Illinois-Chicago got to senior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr in the fourth inning. After DeBuhr retired the Flames in order through the first three frames - including five strikeouts - UIC used three hits, an error and a defensive miscommunication to cut the lead to 3-2 after four innings.

In the sixth, a bases-loaded triple sealed the victory for the Flames. DeBuhr struck out 10 on the night, but surrendered seven hits.

Nebraska wraps up its fall season on Sunday at the Worth Classic with a pair of games against Michigan and Western Michigan.