Huskers Run Past Rebels, 10-2

Las Vegas ? Junior Haley Long finished a home run shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs as the Nebraska offense exploded for 10 runs in a 10-2, six-inning defeat in the first of two games at UNLV on Sunday.

 

Long set new career highs with her three hits and four RBIs to pace NU's 11-hit attack. Fellow junior Amanda Duran added a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs as Nebraska (11-9) won a true road game for the first time in three tries this season.

 

In the circle, junior right-hander Molly Hill (4-3) did not allow an earned run while striking out five and allowing only four hits in six innings of work.

Heather Slettvet (2-3) took the lost for UNLV, which fell to 18-13-1 on the season.

 

Nebraska's offensive explosion started early, as the Huskers used six hits in the first two innings to produce four runs, while UNLV had just one hit, but produced two runs.

 

In the top of the first, Nebraska loaded the bases with no outs on a pair of singles and a hit batter. Junior Amanda Duran then ripped an 0-2 pitch up the middle for a two-run single. With runners on second and third with two outs, Long delivered an RBI single to cap the three-run inning.

 

The Huskers extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the second. Sophomore Whitney Barrett led off with a double and advanced to second on a slap from junior Darcy Rutherford. With Barrett on third, junior Meghan Mullin reached on a bunt single and she rounded the bag heading for second and was caught in a rundown long enough to allow Barrett to score.

 

UNLV answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning with Nebraska’s help. After the first two batters were quickly retired an error, a walk and another error loaded the bases for the top of the Rebel order. Brittany Bolinger then lined a two-run double just fair down the left field line to cut the deficit in half at 4-2.

 

Nebraska was unable to take advantage of another scoring opportunity in the top of the third, as the first two Huskers reached base, but they were left stranded on first and second.

 

NU didn’t waste another scoring opportunity in the top of the fifth, using clutch hitting and a key UNLV error to plate two runs and take a 6-2 lead. Junior Crystal Carwile ripped a one-out single and scored on a two-out triple from Long. Long then scored one batter later on a costly error.

 

The Huskers then loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth for Long, who once again delivered with a two-run double. Freshman Julie Brechtel then scored on a wild pitch to put NU in front 9-2. Long then scored on UNLV’s third error of the game to give Nebraska its 10th run of the game.

 

Long also scored twice for Nebraska, tying her career high. Barrett also enjoyed a terrific game, finishing 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. Barrett entered the game with just one hit on the season and her two hits were just one shy of her career high, while her two walks tied her career best.

 

Nebraska and UNLV play again immediately to conclude the Rebel Round Robin.

Box Score Nebraska Softball Nebraska at UNLV Mar 16, 2008 at Las Vegas, Nev. (Eller Media Stadium)

Nebraska 10 (11-9)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 Linke, Kelli ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 Guile, Ashley dp......... 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Duran, Amanda c.......... 3 1 2 2 1 0 3 2 0 Liegl, Sammi pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 2 1 0 1 0 8 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Long, Haley rf........... 4 2 3 4 0 0 2 0 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 1 2 0 2 0 0 3 0 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 28 10 11 6 4 1 18 8 9

UNLV 2 (18-13-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ BOLINGER, Brittany cf.... 3 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 DE LA TORRE, Alyssia dp.. 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 HULL, Jaci ss............ 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 ORDAZ, Rosa 1b........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 10 0 1 NAKAMURA, Sandy ph...... 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 BEAN, Stephanie lf....... 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 1 BRIONES, Laura c......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 SANCHEZ, Stefani pr..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MEADE, Brittany 3b....... 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 PAUS, Caitlyn pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FARLEY, Cheynah rf....... 2 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 HOLLAND, Ashli 2b........ 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 SLETTVET, Heather p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 24 2 4 2 3 5 18 11 7

Score by Innings R H E --------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 310 024 - 10 11 2 UNLV................ 020 000 - 2 4 3 ---------------------------------------

E - Brechtel(3); Barrett(5); ORDAZ 2; MEADE. LOB - Huskers 9; Rebels 7. 2B - Duran(8); Long(2); Barrett(1); BOLINGER; BEAN. 3B - Long(2). HBP - Guile; Brechtel. SH - Rutherford 2(6); Brechtel(1).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 6.0 4 2 0 3 5 24 27 112

UNLV IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- SLETTVET, Heather... 6.0 11 10 8 4 1 28 37 126

Win - Hill (4-3). Loss - SLETTVET (2-3). Save - None. WP - Hill(5); SLETTVET 2. HBP - by SLETTVET (Guile); by SLETTVET (Brechtel). Pitches/strikes: Hill 112/67; SLETTVET 126/75. Umpires - HP: Chuck Stanley 1B: Glenda Bates 3B: Gery Maguire Start: 12:52 pm Time: 2:19 Attendance: Game: livegame