Bluejays Hold Off Huskers

Lincoln ? After giving up four runs on six hits through the first 1.2 innings, sophomore Molly Hill settled down and retired the final 16 hitters she faced, but the early runs were enough for the Creighton softball team in the Bluejays’ 4-1 victory over Nebraska Wednesday night at Bowlin Stadium.

 

After a 40-minute rain delay in the bottom of the second inning, Hill was brilliant, not allowing a Bluejay to reach base over the final five innings. Hill (9-5) suffered her first loss in eight decisions, allowing a career-high-tying four earned runs on six hits. Hill also struck out nine while walking none.

 

After a triple and a perfectly executed squeeze play put Creighton ahead 1-0 in the top of the first, a defensive gamble cost the Huskers three runs in the top of the second.

 

Jessica German led off the inning with a single before the Huskers attempted to get the lead runner on a sacrifice bunt, but were unsuccessful. Failing to get an out would loom large as German was thrown out at home on a single from Jessica Wakasugi for what could have been the third out.

 

Creighton took advantage of the extra out, scoring three runs to take a 4-0 lead. A two-out single from Jamie Reiss brought the first run home before a two-out, two-strike double down the right field line from Bailey Dawson landed just inches fair and brought two more Bluejays home.

 

A Creighton error gave Nebraska its first run in the bottom of the inning. Senior Jamie Waldecker led off the inning with a single and fellow senior Carmen Kier drew a walk to put runners at first and second with no outs.

 

Following a pair of outs, a throwing error by Dawson allowed Kier to score and cut the lead to 4-1. The unearned run snapped a 33-inning scoreless streak for Creighton starting pitcher Tara Oltman.

 

Nebraska would have scoring chances the rest of the game as the Huskers outscored Creighton, 1-0, after the rain delay, but Oltman continued to hold the Husker offense at bay. Oltman, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, held Nebraska to a season-low two hits, allowing just one unearned run while striking out six.

 

With the loss, Nebraska fell to 20-9. The Huskers have now lost two straight after winning 12 in a row and NU dropped back-to-back home games for the first time since 2005.

 

Creighton, winners in 10 of its last 11, improved to 18-5 with the victory.

 

The Huskers will look to get back on the winning track this weekend, when NU travels to Waco, Texas, to open Big 12 play against 17th-ranked Baylor.

Box Score The Automated ScoreBook Creighton at Nebraska Mar 21, 2007 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Creighton 4 (18-5)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Wakasugi, Jessica cf..... 3 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 Sinkler, Renae ph....... 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Reiss, Jamie 3b.......... 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 Dawson, Bailey ss........ 2 0 1 3 0 1 3 4 0 Eadus, TJ c.............. 3 0 1 0 0 1 6 0 1 Marcano, Caitlin dp...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Graner, Michelle lf...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 German, Jessica 1b....... 3 0 1 0 0 1 7 0 0 Emmsley-Chang, Lau rf.... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Koch, Michelle 2b........ 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 Oltman, Tara p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Totals................... 26 4 6 4 0 9 21 8 3

Nebraska 1 (20-9)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullin, Meghan rf........ 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Long, Haley lf........... 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 Porter, Devin ss......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 0 Pascale, Brittany c...... 2 0 0 0 1 1 11 0 2 Borg, Jaime pr.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Waldecker, Jamie dp...... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney pr..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kier, Carmen 3b.......... 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 3 1 Fuller, Kimberly 2b...... 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 DeBuhr, Ashley ph....... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gonzalez, Crystal cf..... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Hupp, Alex ph........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 Totals................... 25 1 2 0 3 6 21 10 6

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Creighton........... 130 000 0 - 4 6 3 Nebraska............ 010 000 0 - 1 2 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Dawson(5); Koch 2(2). DP - Bluejays 1. LOB - Bluejays 3; Cornhuskers 6. 2B - Dawson(5); Porter(7). 3B - Reiss(3). SH - Dawson(2); Koch(6).

Creighton IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Oltman, Tara........ 7.0 2 1 0 3 6 25 28 114

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 7.0 6 4 4 0 9 26 28 112

Win - Oltman (11-2). Loss - Hill (9-5). Save - None. WP - Oltman(5). PB - Pascale(5). Pitches/strikes: Oltman 114/69; Hill 112/77. Umpires - HP: Renee Williams 1B: Scott Mair 3B: Mike D'Ercole Start: 6:02 pm Time: 1:56 Attendance: 589 Game notes: Game delayed 40 minutes in the bottom of the second due to rain. Game: NU29