NU Falls to No. 23 North Carolina

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Columbus, Ga. ? After making the most of all of its chances on Friday, the Nebraska softball team fell victim to missed opportunities in 6-3 error-plagued loss to 23rd-ranked North Carolina in Saturday action at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

A season-high five Nebraska errors - the most since March of 2005 - led to four unearned runs, while indecision also cost the Huskers in the field and on the basepaths. Offensively, Nebraska scored just one run with the bases loaded and no outs in the second inning and also left the bases full in the fourth.

 

Junior right-hander Molly Hill (1-1), making just her second appearance since undergoing knee surgery four weeks ago, took the loss for Nebraska (3-7). In six innings of work, Hill surrendered a career-high-tying six runs (two earned) on eight hits, while walking four. Hill's career record when receiving more than one run of offensive support also fell to 32-2 with the loss. Freshman Tori Tyson relieved Hill and pitched a perfect bottom of the sixth.

 

North Carolina starter Lisa Norris was also hurt by some defensive miscues, but was able to work around four errors. In earning the victory, Norris (5-3) threw a complete game and did not allow an earned run, while limiting Nebraska to just three hits. Norris also struck out five for UNC (15-5).

 

Things began promisingly for Nebraska, as the Huskers scored first. NU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but NU missed a chance for more. Nebraska loaded the bases with no outs on a pair of hit-by-pitches and a bunt single. Junior Haley Long hit a hard grounder to first that scored freshman pinch runner Abby Hughes. Long also reached safely on the play to keep the bases loaded, but the next two hitters were called out on strikes and Long was picked off first base.

 

A bad hop cost Hill and the Huskers in the second. Danielle Spaulding led off with a routine grounder to second that took a tough hop and got past NU’s Julie Brechtel. The unfortunate bounce came back to haunt Nebraska when Brittany Robinson blooped a two-out, RBI single to shallow right center. Nebraska then caught a break of its own, as Breanna Brown hit a grounder that appeared to be headed for right field before hitting Robinson for an out.

 

North Carolina took the lead in the bottom of the third with Nebraska’s help. The leadoff batter reached on an error and the next batter walked before a wild pitch put runners at second and third with no outs. Emily Troup then lined an RBI single to left to put the Tar Heels in front, 2-1.

 

With runners at the corners, Hill tossed a pitch to the backstop, but it bounced right back to catcher Amanda Duran. The Huskers had time to get Jennifer Jacobs trying to score from third, but Duran’s throw was too hot for Hill to handle, allowing Jacobs to score.

 

NU pulled within a run at 3-2 in the top of the fourth when freshman Kelli Linke recorded a clutch, two-out, pinch-hit RBI single to score junior Crystal Carwile. The Huskers had the bases loaded with two outs before a ground out prevented further damage.

 

Another error led directly to one North Carolina run and helped pave the way for a second as UNC increased its lead to 5-2. North Carolina added another the next inning before two Tar Heel errors gave Nebraska its third and final run.

 

Nebraska continues Saturday play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic against Syracuse at approximately 5:30 p.m. (Central).

 

Box Score Nebraska Softball Nebraska vs #23 North Carolina Mar 01, 2008 at Columbus, Ga. (South Commons Stad.)

Nebraska 3 (3-7)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Duran, Amanda c.......... 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 Guile, Ashley dp......... 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 Hughes, Abby pr......... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Liegl, Sammi pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 4 1 1 0 0 0 7 1 1 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 1 0 0 1 0 4 3 1 Long, Haley rf........... 2 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 0 Pascale, Brittany ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Foland, Heidi ss......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 Linke, Kelli ph......... 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney 3b...... 2 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Tyson, Tori p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 28 3 4 3 3 5 18 9 9

North Carolina 6 (15-5)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Breanna Brown cf......... 4 1 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 Cassie Palmer 2b......... 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 2 Jennifer Jacobs rf....... 2 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 Emily Troup 1b........... 4 0 1 1 0 0 6 0 1 Ashley Oxendine pr...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Danielle Spaulding dp.... 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 Whitney Allen lf......... 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lisa Norris p............ 3 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 Brittany McKinney c...... 1 0 0 0 2 0 5 1 0 Bree Ensminger pr....... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brittany Robinson 3b..... 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 Christine Knauer ss...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 Totals................... 27 6 8 3 4 3 21 6 8

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 010 101 0 - 3 4 5 North Carolina...... 012 210 X - 6 8 4 -----------------------------------------

E - Duran(1); Foland 2(4); Barrett(1); Hill(1); Palmer; Norris; Knauer 2. LOB - Huskers 9; Tar Heels 8. 2B - Norris. HBP - Guile; Brechtel. SH - Robinson.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 5.0 8 6 2 4 3 24 29 93 Tyson, Tori......... 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 7

North Carolina IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Lisa Norris......... 7.0 4 3 0 3 5 28 33 126

Win - Norris (5-3). Loss - Hill (1-1). Save - None. WP - Hill(1). HBP - by Norris (Guile); by Norris (Brechtel). Pitches/strikes: Hill 93/61; Tyson 7/4; Norris 126/76. Umpires - HP: Mike Covello 1B: Jana Tidwell 3B: James Martarona Start: 1:20 pm Time: 2:12 Attendance: 105 Game: livegame