Huskers Open Tournament With Pair of Victories

Lincoln ? The Nebraska softball team handed Colorado State its first two losses of the fall season, as the Huskers swept a doubleheader from the Rams on Saturday at Bowlin Stadium, winning game one 4-2 and game two, 5-4 in a six-inning contest shortened due to the tournament’s time rule.

 

Sophomore right-hander Molly Hill was the winning pitcher in both contests. In game one, she tossed a complete game and allowed two runs on just three hits, while striking out eight. Senior Ashley DeBuhr provided the key hit for the NU offense, as she delivered a clutch pinch-hit, two-out, two-run single that put NU ahead 4-0.

 

Colorado State rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Hill recorded a strikeout to end the game.

 

In game two, freshman Alex Hupp got the start. Nebraska gave her early leads of 2-0 and 4-1, before ColoradoState rallied. Hill relieved Hupp and allowed a game-tying solo home run that tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth inning.

 

With the time limit in effect and knowing the sixth inning would be the game’s final inning, Nebraska mounted a two-out rally to claim the victory. Hupp got the rally started with a one-out single. After she moved up to second on a ground out off the bat of DeBuhr, senior Carmen Kier capped a terrific game by ripping a single up the middle that scored Hupp with the game-winning run.

 

Kier finished 2-for-3 in game two with a home run and a pair of RBIs. Fellow senior Jamie Waldecker added three RBIs on the day, finishing 2-for-5 in the two contests. Freshman Brittany Pascale also finished 2-for-3, while junior leadoff hitter Devin Porter scored three runs in the two games, including two in the nightcap.

 

Nebraska is now 4-2 this spring, while ColoradoState fell to 8-2 with the pair of losses. Both teams return to action tomorrow on the final day of the Big Red Fall Classic. ColoradoState will face Kansas at 10 a.m. in its first game of the day, while the Huskers will host the Jayhawks at 2:30 p.m. in their first game of the day.

 

Nebraska 4

Colorado State 2

Molly Hill earned the victory for Nebraska in game one, tossing a complete game three-hitter, allowing just two runs, while recording eight strikeouts. Offensively, it was another pitcher, senior Ashley DeBuhr, who led the Huskers with a game-winning, pinch-hit two run single in the top of the fourth.

 

Nebraska got on the board in the top of the third despite not recording a hit. Leadoff hitter Devin Porter walked to start the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice slap from sophomore Meghan Mullin. Porter then advanced to third on a passed ball, and following a walk to sophomore Brittany Pascale, Porter scored the game’s first run when senior Jamie Waldecker lined out to center field for a sacrifice fly.

 

The Huskers added three more runs in the fourth. Freshman Alex Hupp led off with a single and NU had runners at first and third after a ColoradoState error following a slap by sophomore Darcy Rutherford. Hupp then scored when sophomore Kimberly Fuller laced a double down the left field line. With runners on second and third and no outs, CSU recorded two quick outs and appeared to be out of trouble. DeBuhr had a different plan, however, as she reached on a two-out, pinch-hit single that scored Rutherford and Fuller to put NU ahead 4-0.

 

Colorado State avoided the shutout when Becca Penland grounded out with runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh to score Shannon Causgrove. The Rams didn’t stop there as Ashley Munoz lined a two-out single into left field to score Brittany Huerta and cut the lead to 4-2. Hill then recorded a strikeout of Robyn Mask to end the threat.

 

DeBuhr finished the game 1-for-1 with the two decisive RBIs. Waldecker and Fuller each finished 1-for-2 with an RBI, while Hupp added the Huskers’ fourth hit.

 

Nebraska 5

Colorado State 4 (6 innings ? game called due to time rule)

After ColoradoState erased early deficits of 2-0 and 4-1 to tie the game, Nebraska rallied behind some timely hitting to earn a 5-4 win in the game’s final at bat.

 

After starting slowly the first game, the Husker offense struck quickly in game two. Senior Devin Porter led off with a double down the left field line. With one out, sophomore Brittany Pascale singled through the left side, which put runners at second and third. Nebraska then took a 2-0 lead when senior Jamie Waldecker hit a grounder up the middle that deflected off the pitcher’s glove, allowing Porter and sophomore pinch runner Darcy Rutherford to cross home plate.

 

Colorado State answered in the next half inning with a single run. With Brittany Huerta on second base and two outs, Ashley Munoz blooped a single to shallow center field to score Huerta and make the score 2-1.

 

Senior Carmen Kier quickly answered the Rams’ run, when she took a 1-2 pitch the opposite way for a solo home run over the right field fence to put NU back on top by two runs, 3-1.

 

CSU threatened the next half inning, when the Rams loaded the bases with only one out, courtesy of a pair of walks and a single. Hupp worked her way out of the jam with a force out at home and a strikeout.

 

Colorado State pulled to with 4-3 in the top of the fourth when Kayla Kreutzman sent a 2-2 pitch to the gap in right center for a two-out, two-run double.

 

The Rams continued to apply the offensive pressure, as Jessica Strickland launched a solo home run over the scoreboard in left field with two outs in the top of the fifth inning to tie the score at 4-4.

 

Nebraska put its first two runners on base in the bottom of the inning and loaded the bases with only one out. Sophomore Kimberly Fuller then pinch hit with the bases full and reached on a fielder’s choice as senior Jaime Borg was forced out at home. Sophomore Brittany Pascale then worked the count full before being called out on strikes.

 

In the sixth and final inning, Hupp reached on a one-out single to put the go-ahead run on base. Senior Ashley DeBuhr then advanced Hupp to second with a ground out and Kier capped a 2-for-3 effort with a game-winning single up the middle that plated Hupp.

 

In addition to Kier’s big game, Porter finished 2-for-2 with a pair of runs, while Waldecker also added two RBIs. Pascale also enjoyed a good game, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI.