Huskers Fight for 3-2 Win

Wichita, Kan. ? Despite facing a one-run deficit and having a series of unusual plays go against them, the Nebraska softball team fought through the challenges to come from behind and post a 3-2 victory over Minnesota Friday morning in the first game of the Shocker Invitational.

 

Offensively, NU overcame 11 runners left on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the third, fourth and sixth innings. Nebraska also overcame an unusual situation in the fifth inning, when a pair of singles failed to score a runner from third, although she did eventually come home.

 

The Huskers had to fight for each of their three runs, despite outhitting the Golden Gophers, 9-4, drawing three walks, reaching once on a strike out and being helped by three Gopher errors.

 

Defensively, Nebraska overcame three illegal pitches through the first four innings, which directly resulted in Minnesota’s first run and erased outs in two at bats that eventually resulted in walks.

 

Nebraska’s ability to fight back and earn the win improved to the Huskers’ record to 11-7, while also marking NU’s third consecutive victory, tying its season high.

 

Senior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr (6-3) earned the victory, allowing just four hits and striking out eight. She was tagged for two earned runs, including the one that scored on the illegal pitch.

 

Briana Hassett (4-3) took the loss for Minnesota, which dropped to 8-8 on the year. In a complete-game effort, Hassett allowed three runs (two earned) on nine hits.

 

The Huskers had a pair of scoring chances early against Hassett, as NU had runners at second and third with only one out in both the second and third innings, before leaving the bases loaded each time.

 

While the Huskers left seven stranded through the first four innings and were unable to capitalize on four hits ? including a pair of doubles ? Minnesota scratched out a run in the bottom of the fourth despite not hitting the ball out of the infield and putting just one ball in play.

 

Megan Higginbotham led off with a chopper to short that she was able to beat out in a bang-bang play at first. After stealing second, Higginbotham advanced to third and scored on a pair of illegal pitches called on DeBuhr.

 

The Huskers finally scored in the fifth, although it wasn’t easy. A leadoff single, a stolen base and a ground out put freshman Crystal Gonzalez on third with only one out. NU then recorded a pair of singles but neither brought Gonzalez home.

 

With the bases loaded and two outs, sophomore Kimberly Fuller produced her second RBI in as many games by coaxing a four-pitch walk. DeBuhr then gave herself the lead by fighting off three two-strike pitches before singling through the right side to score sophomore Crystal Carwile and put the Huskers ahead 2-1.

 

The Golden Gophers answered right back in the bottom of the frame. Colleen Powers led off with a single and was at third with two outs for Higginbotham. One pitch after the Huskers thought they had struck her out, Higginbotham sent a 1-2 pitch into the gap in right center for an RBI double.

 

NU answered back in the top of the sixth with the help of a key misplay from the Minnesota second baseman. After recording two quick outs, senior Devin Porter hit a soft grounder to second, but Colleen Conway was unable to field it, then compounded the problem by throwing wildly to first to allow Porter to advance to second. Carwile made the Gophers pay by recording an RBI single to put NU on top 3-2.

 

Carwile tied her career high with three hits, going 3-for-4 and recording the game-winning RBI. Porter (2-for-4) also recorded a multi-hit game while sophomore Meghan Mullin went 0-for-4 to snap her career-high 10-game hitting streak.

 

Nebraska plays again immediately against Western Illinois in its final game on the first day of the Shocker Invitational. 

Box Score The Automated ScoreBook Nebraska vs Minnesota Mar 08, 2007 at Wichita, Kan. (Wilkins Stadium)

Nebraska 3 (11-7)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullin, Meghan rf........ 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 Gonzalez, Crystal cf..... 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Porter, Devin ss......... 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 4 1 3 1 0 0 9 0 1 Pascale, Brittany c...... 4 0 1 0 0 1 8 0 1 Long, Haley lf........... 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 Fuller, Kimberly 2b...... 3 0 0 1 1 0 1 3 3 DeBuhr, Ashley dp/p...... 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 Borg, Jaime pr.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kier, Carmen 3b.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 Hupp, Alex ph........... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 Hill, Molly p/dp......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 33 3 9 3 2 4 21 5 11

Minnesota 2 (8-8)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Conway, Colleen 2b....... 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 Sward, Chrissy lf........ 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Higginbotham, Megan ss... 2 1 2 1 1 0 1 3 0 Parks, Lisa 1b........... 3 0 0 0 0 3 15 0 2 Valadez, Mandy 3b........ 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 5 0 Fernandez, Sila pr...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Meyer, Katie rf/dp....... 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wolvington, Bethany pr.. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Stemper, Shannon c....... 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 Wheeler, Casey cf........ 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 Powers, Colleen dp/rf.... 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Hasett, Briana p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Totals................... 23 2 4 1 3 8 21 14 6

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 021 0 - 3 9 0 Minnesota........... 000 110 0 - 2 4 3 -----------------------------------------

E - Conway 2; Higginbotham. DP - Cornhuskers 1. LOB - Cornhuskers 11; Gophers 6. 2B - Carwile(4); Pascale(2); Higginbotham. HBP - Valadez; Meyer. SH - Conway. SB - Gonzalez(3); Conway; Higginbotham; Wolvington.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - DeBuhr, Ashley...... 7.0 4 2 2 3 8 23 29 104

Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hasett, Briana...... 7.0 9 3 2 2 4 33 35 131

Win - DeBuhr (6-3). Loss - Hassett (4-3). Save - None. WP - Hassett. HBP - by DeBuhr (Valadez); by DeBuhr (Meyer). BK - DeBuhr 2(2). Pitches/strikes: DeBuhr 104/72; Hassett 131/85. Umpires - HP: Terry Holt 1B: Aaron Eller 3B: Rick Boyer Start: 10:00 am Time: 2:15 Attendance: Game: NU18