Fresno State Rallies Past Nebraska

Las Vegas - The 23rd-ranked Nebraska softball team jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, only to see Fresno State rally for three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 3-2 victory over the Huskers on Saturday at the UNLV Invitational.

Nebraska (8-7) lost for the fourth time this season when leading after three innings of play. In 2006, Nebraska lost only four times all season when taking a lead into the middle innings. Senior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr (4-3) took the loss, allowing three runs on 10 hits in five innings of work.

Fresno State improved to 11-6 with the victory. Robin Mackin, a star pitcher for Team Canada which is coached by NU associate head coach Lori Sippel, earned the victory allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits in a complete-game effort.

After failing to score in a 2-0 loss to DePaul in Saturday's first game, Nebraska jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with a two-out rally in the top of the first. Senior Devin Porter got the scoring starting by launching a solo homer - her second blast in four games - to put the Huskers up 1-0. Back-to-back walks put runners at first and second before a Mackin throwing error allowed sophomore Crystal Carwile to score and give Nebraska a two-run cushion.

The Huskers had scoring to extend the lead in the second after a one-out double and in the third when they loaded the bases with two outs, but they were unable to capitalize on either opportunity.

Fresno State stormed back to take a 3-2 lead lead in decisive fourth inning. Jenna Cervantez scored from second on a one-out infield single before Haley Perkins ripped a two-out double to the wall in right to score two and give the Bulldogs the advantage.

After NU stranded eight runners through the first four frames, Nebraska was unable to muster much offense after falling behind. The Huskers managed just two runners over the final three innings as Mackin retired 10 of the final 12 batters.

Porter led the NU offense with a 2-for-4 day, while sophomore Brittany Pascale went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks.

Nebraska concludes action at the UNLV Invitational with a pair of games on Sunday. The Huskers will face Delaware State at 1:15 p.m. before facing 18th-ranked Cal at 3:30 p.m.

Box Score The Automated ScoreBook #23 Nebraska vs Fresno State Mar 03, 2007 at Las Vegas, Nev. (Eller Media Stadium)

Nebraska 2 (8-7)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Mullin, Meghan rf........ 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 Porter, Devin ss......... 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 1 1 0 1 0 6 0 2 Pascale, Brittany c...... 2 0 1 0 2 0 5 0 0 Barrett, Whitney pr..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Long, Haley dp/cf........ 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 DeBuhr, Ashley p/dp...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Kier, Carmen 3b.......... 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 3 Fuller, Kimberly 2b...... 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 3 0 Gonzalez, Crystal cf..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Hill, Molly p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 28 2 6 1 4 6 18 7 10

Fresno State 3 (11-6)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mackin, Robin p.......... 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 Sherman, Kori pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Haley, Perkins ss........ 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 Willis, Nichole c........ 4 0 1 0 0 1 6 0 1 Sylvester, Kristin dp.... 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 Coronado, Lisamarie rf... 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 Perkins, Mallory pr..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 White, Ashley 3b......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 Cervantez, Jenna 2b...... 3 1 2 0 0 0 1 3 0 Garvin, Shannon 1b....... 2 0 0 0 1 1 8 1 3 Palazuelos, Michelle cf.. 2 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 Phipps, Brooke lf........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 28 3 10 3 3 4 21 7 10

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 200 000 0 - 2 6 1 Fresno State........ 000 300 X - 3 10 2 -----------------------------------------

E - Porter(3); Mackin; Perkins, H. LOB - Cornhuskers 10; Bulldogs 10. 2B - Fuller(1); Perkins, H; Willis. HR - Porter(2). SH - Rutherford(4).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- DeBuhr, Ashley...... 5.0 10 3 3 3 4 25 28 114 Hill, Molly......... 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 11

Fresno State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Mackin, Robin....... 7.0 6 2 1 4 6 28 33 122

Win - Mackin (8-5). Loss - DeBuhr (4-3). Save - None. WP - Mackin. Pitches/strikes: DeBuhr 114/67; Hill 11/7; Mackin 122/79. Umpires - HP: Kevin Davis 1B: Glenda Bates 3B: Bob Shelton Start: 1:30 pm Time: 2:18 Attendance: DeBuhr faced 2 batters in the 6th. Game: NU15