Big Inning Propels Cyclones Past NU

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Ames, Iowa ? Iowa State used an 11-run sixth inning to erase a two-run deficit and rally for an improbable 13-4, come-from-behind, run-rule victory over the Nebraska softball team on a windy day at the Southwest Athletic Complex in Ames, Iowa, on Tuesday.

 

Trailing 4-2 entering the sixth, Iowa State sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning, and all 11 Cyclones scored as Nebraska failed to record a single out. Alex Johnson's grand slam put ISU in front 7-4, before Ariel Coburn drilled her second home run of the game, a walk-off three-run shot that wrapped up the run-rule victory.

 

With the win, Iowa State (26-19, 3-6 Big 12) handed Nebraska its first run-rule loss in Big 12 play since 2001, snapping the Huskers' conference-leading streak of 139 games without a run-rule defeat. With the loss, Nebraska fell to 17-21 overall and 1-8 in the Big 12 Conference.

 

Charissa Carlin (10-7) picked up the relief victory for ISU. In only two-thirds of an inning, Carlin did not allow a run and only surrendered one hit. Rachel Zabriskie earned the start, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits in 5.1 innings.

 

For the Huskers, sophomore Alex Hupp earned the start and also re-entered the game in the sixth inning. Hupp tossed a total of 3.1 innings, allowing six runs on four hits, although she surrendered just two runs through the first 3.1 innings before being relieved by Hill. Hill, who was in position to earn the victory heading into the sixth, was tagged for six runs on only three hits in just 1.2 innings. Freshman Tori Tyson also saw action in the sixth inning, allowing a home run to the only batter she faced.

 

Offensively for Nebraska, junior Crystal Carwile finished 2-for-3 with a double, a homer and two RBIs. Her two-out, two-run fourth-inning home run erased a one-run deficit and put NU in front 3-2. An Iowa State error gave Nebraska a 4-2 lead one inning later, before the Cyclones' exploded in the bottom of the frame.

 

On the game, Iowa State only out-hit Nebraska, 8-7, and the Cyclones committed three errors to the Huskers' one. As has been the case of late, the Husker pitching staff hurt itself with walks. NU issued five walks and hit two batters while surrendering three home runs.

 

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Things looked good early, as Nebraska scored the game's first run, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Carwile ripped the first pitch of the inning down the right field line for a leadoff double. Freshman Kelli Linke then moved her to third with a ground out before freshman Julie Brechtel lined a single off the glove of the first baseman to bring Carwile home.

 

Iowa State broke up Hupp’s no-hitter in the fourth when Kelsey Kidwell led off with a single. Two batters later, Ariel Coburn hit a high fly ball to center that a strong wind gusting out at more than 30 miles per hour carried just over the fence for a two-run homer.

 

The wind played a factor again in the next inning, as Carwile hit her towering, two-out, two-run homer to left.

 

Nebraska added its final run with Iowa State's help in the top of the sixth. Junior Brittany Pascale and sophomore Whitney Barrett both singled and freshman pinch runner Sammi Liegl came home with two outs on a throwing error by ISU catcher Sara Stinson.

 

Nebraska and IowaState wrap up their two-game season series with a 5 p.m. contest this Thursday at Bowlin Stadium.

Box Score Nebraska Softball Nebraska at Iowa State Apr 15, 2008 at Ames, Iowa (SW Athletic Complex)

Nebraska 4 (17-21,1-8 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 Long, Haley rf........... 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 2 2 2 0 0 4 1 1 Linke, Kelli dp.......... 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Hughes, Abby 3b......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 Pascale, Brittany c...... 2 0 1 0 1 1 8 0 0 Liegl, Sammi pr......... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Foland, Heidi 3b/ss...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 Barrett, Whitney ss/2b... 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 4 Hupp, Alex p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hill, Molly p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tyson, Tori p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 24 4 7 3 2 7 15 5 6

Iowa State 13 (26-19,3-6 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Olsen, Kristy rf......... 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 Kidwell, Kelsey cf....... 3 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 Beatty, Jacquelyn ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Wray, Courtney lf........ 3 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 Coburn, Ariel 3b......... 3 3 2 5 1 0 0 0 0 Bradberry, Amanda 2b..... 2 1 0 0 0 1 3 1 0 Jones, Sydni 1b.......... 3 1 1 1 0 1 5 0 0 Johnson, Alex dp......... 3 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 1 Monroe, Carrie ss........ 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 2 0 Stinson, Sara c.......... 1 1 0 0 2 0 6 3 0 Berry, Carleigh pr...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zabriskie, Rachel p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 Carlin, Charissa p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 23 13 8 13 5 7 18 9 3

Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------ Nebraska............ 000 121 - 4 7 1 Iowa State.......... 000 20(11) - 13 8 3 ------------------------------------------

E - Rutherford(3); Coburn; Bradberry; Stinson. DP - Cyclones 1. LOB - Huskers 6; Cyclones 3. 2B - Carwile(7); Kidwell; Wray. HR - Carwile(6); Coburn 2; Johnson. HBP - Long; Olsen; Bradberry. SH - Brechtel(3); Wray. SB - Barrett(1); Berry. CS - Brechtel(1).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hupp, Alex.......... 3.1 4 6 6 2 5 13 18 64 Hill, Molly......... 1.2 3 6 5 3 2 9 12 40 Tyson, Tori......... 0.0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 4

Iowa State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Zabriskie, Rachel... 5.1 6 4 3 2 6 21 25 87 Carlin, Charissa.... 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 3 3 14

Win - Carlin (10-7). Loss - Hill (7-11). Save - None. WP - Hill(10). HBP - by Zabriskie (Long); by Hupp (Bradberry); by Hupp (Olsen). Pitches/strikes: Hupp 64/38; Hill 40/23; Tyson 4/2; Zabriskie 87/57; Carlin 14/8. Umpires - HP: Tom Topping 1B: Ed Murphy 3B: Sara Bixby Start: 3:31 pm Time: 2:13 Attendance: 168 Hill faced 6 batters in the 6th. Hupp faced 4 batters in the 6th. Tyson faced 1 batter in the 6th. Game: NU38