Huskers Fall to Cal in Season Opener

Tempe, Ariz. ? Bernice Masaniai went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs to power California past the Nebraska softball team, 6-1, in the Huskers’ season opener Friday at the Kajikawa Classic inside Farrington Stadium.

 

Nebraska (0-1) started five newcomers, while all eight of the Husker newcomers saw action. The group was led by freshman Ashley Guile, who recorded Nebraska’s lone hit and RBI, while also drawing a walk.

 

Sophomore right-hander Alex Hupp (0-1) suffered the first loss of her career, surrendering a career-high four runs on a career-hihgh 10 hits in five innings of work. Marissa Drewrey (2-2) did not allow an earned run in a complete-game one-hitter for Cal (3-4).

 

Cal jumped in front early, scoring two runs in the top of the first. A walk, an infield single and a sacrifice put runners at second and third for Masaniai, who ripped a two-run double off the wall in left.

 

After Hupp settled down, Nebraska had a chance to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning, when three walks loaded the bases with only one out. The Huskers were unable to push a run across, however, as Hupp and junior Haley Long both struck out.

 

NU found the scoreboard in its next inning to cut Cal’s lead to 2-1. Juniors Meghan Mullin and Darcy Rutherford each used their speed to pressure the Cal defense into a pair of errors. A sacrifice from junior Crystal Carwile moved the runners up to second and third with only one out for Guile, who brought Mullin home with an RBI ground out in her first official career at bat.

 

In the top of the fifth, the Bears extended their lead to 4-1. Cal recorded five hits in the inning, but only managed the two runs after having runners thrown out at third and home.

 

Freshman right-hander Tori Tyson relieved Hupp for the top of the sixth inning and promptly struck out her first career batter. Tyson then earned an unexpected at bat in the bottom of the frame, as she struck out with runners on second and third with two outs.

 

Masaniai continued to burn the Huskers in the top of the seventh when she belted an 0-1 offering from Tyson over the fence in left center for a two-run homer that pushed Cal’s lead to 6-1. Mullin then made a great play on the next batter as she made a leaping catch while crashing into the centerfield wall.

 

Tyson finished her career debut allowing two earned runs on a pair of hits in two innings of work.

 

Nebraska returns to action at 4 p.m (Central) this afternoon, when the Huskers conclude their first day of the season against IdahoState. Free, live audio, along with periodic game updates will be available on Huskers.com.

Nebraska Softball California vs Nebraska Feb 15, 2008 at Tempe, Ariz. (Farrington Stadium)

California 6 (3-4)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Arioto, Valerie rf....... 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 Racklin, Erika cf........ 4 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Leomiti, Gina lf......... 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Masaniai, Bernice dp..... 4 2 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 Sevilla, Vernae 2b....... 3 0 2 0 1 0 4 5 0 Vickers, Katie 3b........ 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 Kekahuna, Sanoe 1b....... 3 0 1 0 0 1 10 1 2 Meyer, Julia c........... 3 0 1 0 0 2 5 1 0 Kelly, Taylor ss......... 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 Drewrey, Marissa p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 28 6 12 6 3 3 21 14 6

Nebraska 1 (0-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullin, Meghan cf........ 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 3 1 Guile, Ashley 3b......... 2 0 1 1 1 0 3 1 0 Liegl, Sammi pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Duran, Amanda c.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 1 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 Hughes, Abby pr/dp...... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 0 Hupp, Alex p............. 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 Tyson, Tori p........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Long, Haley rf........... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 Linke, Kelli ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Foland, Heidi ss/pr...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Totals................... 22 1 1 1 4 6 21 12 7

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- California.......... 200 020 2 - 6 12 2 Nebraska............ 001 000 0 - 1 1 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Vickers; Kelly. DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Bears 6; Huskers 7. 2B - Leomiti; Masaniai; Kekahuna. HR - Masaniai. HBP - Long. SH - Leomiti; Kelly; Rutherford(1); Carwile(1). SB - Mullin(1).

California IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Drewrey, Marissa.... 7.0 1 1 0 4 6 22 29 131

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hupp, Alex.......... 5.0 10 4 4 3 2 20 25 106 Tyson, Tori......... 2.0 2 2 2 0 1 8 8 24

Win - Drewrey (2-2). Loss - Hupp (0-1). Save - None. HBP - by Drewrey (Long). Pitches/strikes: Drewrey 131/76; Hupp 106/59; Tyson 24/14. Umpires - Start: 10:30 am Time: 2:29 Attendance: 195 Game: NU1