Four-Run Inning Pushes Sooners Past Huskers

Norman, Okla. - The Nebraska softball team gave a powerful Oklahoma lineup an extra out in the third inning and that was all OU needed as the fourth-ranked Sooners went on to score four unearned runs with two outs in the decisive inning to earn a two-game sweep of the Huskers with a 5-1 win on Sunday.

The loss was Nebraska's 10th consecutive setback to a top-five foe since 2004 and dropped the Huskers to 34-15 on the season and 7-6 in a Big 12 Conference that features three top-10 teams.

After surrendering 10 earned runs for the first time in more than three years on Saturday, the NU pitching staff was back to form on Sunday, despite allowing five runs. Sophomore right-hander Molly Hill allowed only one earned run in a complete-game effort, surrendering seven hits and working around five walks.

Lauren Eckermann was solid in the circle for OU, as she improved to 29-2 on the season. Eckermann allowed only one run on three hits and retired 17 of the final 18 hitters, while recording all seven of her strikeouts during that stretch. Behind her effort, the Sooners improved to 47-5 on the season and 12-3 in the league after completing an impressive week that also included a sweep of No. 10 Baylor in a Wednesday doubleheader.

After falling behind early yesterday, Nebraska jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in its first at bat. Senior Devin Porter worked for a two-out walk before sophomore Crystal Carwile ripped an 0-2 pitch to the gap in right center for a run-scoring double that plated Porter.

The Huskers missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the top of the second. An error, a single and a hit batter loaded the bases with only one out before the next two batters both struck out.

Oklahoma answered in the bottom of the third when a single, an error and a fielder's choice where no out was recorded put runners at first and second with no outs. Giving the Sooners an extra out would cost NU, as Susan Ogden ripped a two-out, two-run double on a 1-2 pitch to the wall in right center to put OU on top 2-1.

Jamie Fox then fell behind 0-2 before fouling off five two-strike pitches and hitting a sinking liner to left that just avoided the glove of a diving Alex Hupp for another two-run double.

After a rough opening 1.1 innings, Eckermann settled down in the circle for OU, as the back-to-back bases loaded strikeouts in the top of the second started a string of 11 straight sat down by the right-hander, including six strikeouts.

Porter snapped Eckermann's string with a leadoff single in the top of the sixth and was at third with only one out, but NU was unable to get her home.

OU added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth with a few fortunate bounces. With runners on first and second, the Sooners got an infield single that started out foul down the third base line but rolled back into fair territory to load the bases. The next batter sent a shallow pop up to left field that Porter was able to show great range to get to, but the ball popped out of her glove for a single that gave Oklahoma a 5-1 advantage.

Hill quickly retired the next two batters to finish the game allowing just one earned run.

Porter paced the NU offense with a 1-for-2 day and she also scored NU's lone run and drew the Huskers' only walk of the game.

Despite two disappointing losses on the road to one of the top teams in the nation, Nebraska had plenty of positives to take away from its trip to Norman. On Saturday, the Huskers scored a season-high nine runs. NU not only led in both games, but the Huskers were one out away from winning on Saturday and given the way Sunday's contest went after the third, Nebraska was just one out away from a 1-1 tie heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Nebraska returns home for a final three-game homestand next week. The Huskers open the week on Wednesday against Kansas at 6:30 p.m. That game will air live in Nebraska on NET and nationally on CSTV at 9 p.m. (central).

Box Score Nebraska Softball Nebraska at #4 Oklahoma Apr 22, 2007 at Norman, Okla. (OU Softball Complex)

Nebraska 1 (34-15,7-6 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Barrett, Whitney 2b...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 0 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 Porter, Devin ss......... 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 0 1 1 0 1 7 0 0 Waldecker, Jamie c....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 Long, Haley rf........... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex lf............ 3 0 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 Kier, Carmen 3b.......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 Borg, Jaime ph.......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 25 1 3 1 1 7 18 9 5

Oklahoma 5 (47-5,12-3 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Dickson, Norrelle 3b..... 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 2 0 Mena, Mariee rf.......... 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 Flores, Amber lf......... 3 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 Ricketts, Samantha 1b.... 3 1 0 0 1 0 5 2 4 Ogden, Susan dp.......... 3 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 Fox, Jamie cf............ 2 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 Vandever, Lindsey c...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 1 Long, Savannah ss........ 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Dickenson, Traci 2b...... 1 1 1 0 2 0 4 2 0 Eckermann, Lauren p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 26 5 7 5 5 3 21 7 8

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 100 000 0 - 1 3 1 Oklahoma............ 004 001 X - 5 7 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Kier(11); Dickenson(6). LOB - Cornhuskers 5; Sooners 8. 2B - Carwile(13); Ogden(9); Fox(7). HBP - Kier.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 6.0 7 5 1 5 3 26 31 137

Oklahoma IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Eckermann, Lauren... 7.0 3 1 1 1 7 25 27 107

Win - Eckermann (29-2). Loss - Hill (15-8). Save - None. WP - Hill(7); Eckermann(6). HBP - by Eckermann (Kier). Pitches/strikes: Hill 137/78; Eckermann 107/77. Umpires - HP: Mike Hall 1B: Scott Brians 3B: Terry Hix Start: 12:00 pm Time: 2:09 Attendance: 821 Game: NU49