Oklahoma State Edges Nebraska, 3-1

Stillwater, Okla. ? A three-run third inning propelled Oklahoma State to a 3-1 victory over the Nebraska softball team on a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon at Cowgirl Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.

 

With the loss, Nebraska fell to 17-22 on the season and 1-9 in the Big 12 Conference. The defeat also snapped the NU’s five-game winning streak over OklahomaState and the Huskers’ seven-game win streak at Cowgirl Stadium.

 

Sophomore right-hander Alex Hupp (9-8) took the loss, snapping her personal three-game win streak. Hupp earned the start and allowed three runs on three hits in 2.1 innings as she walked a career-high five batters. Junior right-hander Molly Hill closed out the game and retired 10 of the 13 batters she faced. Unfortunately for Hill and the Huskers, the first batter she faced ripped what proved to be the game-winning two-run single, but both runs were charged to Hupp. Over the final 3.2 innings, Hill struck out five while allowing just three singles.

 

Anna Whiddon (9-5) earned the victory for Oklahoma State, which improved to 23-20 overall and 6-5 in Big 12 play. In a complete-game effort, Whiddon allowed just one run on only five hits while striking out six.

 

On the game, Oklahoma State only out-hit Nebraska, 6-5, but three of the Cowgirls' hits came in the decisive third inning. Hupp worked around a leadoff double in the first and a pair of walks in the second before both came back to hurt her in the third. Katelyn Bright led off with a bloop double to left center before Hupp walked Alysia Hamilton. Kim Kaye, the Cowgirls’ No. 4 hitter, then smacked a 2-2 pitch off the wall in right for an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1.

 

After recording the first out, Hupp walked her fifth batter of the game to load the bases. Hill then came on in relief and was promptly greeted with a two-run single from Ashley Boyd that gave Oklahoma State a 3-1 lead, which ultimately proved to be the final score.

 

Oklahoma State's big inning came after Nebraska jumped on top 1-0 with a two-out rally in the top of the frame. Freshman Heidi Foland reached on a one-out single. With two outs, Foland stole second one pitch before junior Darcy Rutherford lined an RBI single into left center.

 

Foland's run was Nebraska's lone tally of the game, but the Huskers were able to put the tying runners on base with two outs in the seventh before a pop out ended the game.

 

Rutherford led the NU offense with a 2-for-3 day that included the RBI, while Foland, junior Crystal Carwile and freshman Kelli Linke also recorded hits for the Huskers.

 

Nebraska plays its final road game of the season on Sunday, when the Huskers and Cowgirls wrap up their two-game series at 1 p.m.

Box Score Nebraska Softball Nebraska at Oklahoma State Apr 19, 2008 at Stillwater, Okla. (Cowgirl Stadium)

Nebraska 1 (17-22,1-9 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 3 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 Long, Haley rf........... 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 0 1 0 0 0 4 1 0 Pascale, Brittany c...... 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Guile, Ashley c......... 1 0 0 0 1 1 5 0 1 Hughes, Abby pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Linke, Kelli dp.......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Liegl, Sammi pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 Hupp, Alex p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hill, Molly p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 24 1 5 1 1 6 18 7 3

Oklahoma State 3 (23-20,6-5 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Gearhart, Mariah ss...... 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 4 Bright, Katelyn lf....... 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hamilton, Alysia 2b...... 2 1 0 0 1 1 4 3 0 Kaye, Kim rf............. 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 Castle, Megan dp......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Kim, Heather 1b.......... 1 0 0 0 2 0 6 0 0 Boyd, Ashley c........... 3 0 2 2 0 0 6 0 0 Phillips, Kati pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Meza, Jessica 3b......... 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 Casaus, Breana cf........ 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 Whiddon, Anna p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 Totals................... 23 3 6 3 5 5 21 8 7

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 001 000 0 - 1 5 0 Oklahoma State...... 003 000 0 - 3 6 0 -----------------------------------------

LOB - Huskers 3; Cowgirls 7. 2B - M.Gearhart; K.Bright; K.Kaye. SB - Foland(6); H.Kim.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hupp, Alex.......... 2.1 3 3 3 5 0 10 15 63 Hill, Molly......... 3.2 3 0 0 0 5 13 13 41

Oklahoma State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Whiddon, Anna....... 7.0 5 1 1 1 6 24 25 85

Win - A.Whiddon (9-5). Loss - Hupp (9-8). Save - None. Pitches/strikes: Hupp 63/29; Hill 41/29; A.Whiddon 85/58. Umpires - HP: Bart Hadley 1B: Mike Boston 3B: Scott Brians Start: 2:03 pm Time: 1:47 Attendance: 305 Game: livegame