Huskers Fall in Final Road Game

Stillwater, Okla. ? Oklahoma State scored seven of its eight runs with two outs, as the clutch hitting propelled the Cowgirls to an 8-2 victory over the Nebraska softball team on Sunday in the Huskers' final road game of the season at Cowgirl Stadium.

 

The Huskers had to play catch up from the beginning, as Oklahoma State scored the first three runs of the game. Trailing early was a change for Nebraska, as the Huskers had scored first in each of their last three conference games and four of their last five. Although NU was able to cut the lead to two, the Huskers would get no closer as they fell to 17-23 on the season and 1-10 in Big 12 Conference play.

 

Junior Crystal Carwile homered for the second time in three games to account for NU's first run of the game. Carwile finished 2-for-3 and scored both Husker runs, while fellow junior Meghan Mullin recorded her 100th career hit with a first-inning single.

 

In the circle, junior right-hander Molly Hill lost her sixth straight decision while falling to 7-12 on the season. Hill worked 4.2 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits, as four of the hits she allowed came with two outs, as did both of her walks. Sophomore right-hander Alex Hupp failed to retire a batter, as she allowed one run on one hit, while walking one batter and hitting another. Freshman Kelli Linke closed out the game, marking her career debut in the circle. In 1.1 innings, Linke did not allow a run while giving up just one hit.

 

Oklahoma State improved to 24-20 on the season and 7-5 Big 12 behind the effort of Sarah Odom and Amanda Crabtree. Odom (8-4) earned the start and picked up the victory, allowing one run on four hits in four innings of work. Crabtree earned her first save, allowing one run on one hit in three innings.

 

Nebraska missed a chance to score first for the fourth consecutive game in the top of the first. With runners on first and third with two outs, freshman Ashley Guile took off for second base and when OklahomaState threw down to second, Carwile attempted to score from third. The throw home beat Carwile, but was high. In successfully avoiding the initial tag, Carwile missed home plate and as she scrambled back to the plate, OSU was able to tag her out just before her hand touched home.

 

After the Huskers’ missed opportunity, OklahomaState took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Kim Kaye lifted a 2-0 pitch to the gap in left center that a stiff breeze helped carry just over the fence for a solo home run.

 

The Cowgirls added to their lead in the bottom of the third. Breana Casaus led off with a bunt single and stole second. Hill then recorded two quick outs before Alysia Hamilton blooped an RBI single into shallow center field to bring Casaus home with OSU's second run of the game. Back-to-back singles plated another run, as the Cowgirls extended their lead to 3-0. Oklahoma State had a chance for more with runners on second and third, but freshman second baseman Julie Brechtel showed great range while making a nice play to her right to record the final out.

 

Carwile cut the deficit to two in the top of the fourth, when she hit a 1-2 pitch to left that the wind carried over the wall for a solo home run.

 

Oklahoma State answered right back in the bottom of the frame with another two-out run. With a runner on third and two outs, Mariah Gearhart lined a ball to right that just got under the glove of a diving Haley Long for an RBI double.

 

Nebraska ran into more two-out troubles in the bottom of the fifth, as the seven consecutive hitters reached base safely after the Huskers recorded two quick outs to open the inning. In the inning, Oklahoma State scored four runs and left the bases loaded despite recording only one out. After recording the first two outs, NU walked three consecutive batters before Hupp surrendered a three-run double to Jessica Meza. Another walk and a hit batter loaded the bases again before an error allowed the fourth run of the inning to score. With the run-rule looming, Linke finally got the Huskers out of the jam when she coaxed a ground out.

 

In an effort to get back into the game, the Huskers loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth. NU got a run closer on an unusual play. Kim Kaye made a terrific diving grab of Brechtel's fly ball to right center and on the play, Carwile tagged up and scored from third. Junior Haley Long tagged up to advance to second on the play, but she was called out on appeal for leaving early, however the run was allowed to stand.

 

Nebraska was then retired in order in the seventh.

 

After completing its road schedule, Nebraska opens up a season-ending nine-game homestand beginning on Wednesday with a doubleheader against North DakotaState.

Box Score Nebraska Softball Nebraska at Oklahoma State Apr 20, 2008 at Stillwater, Okla. (Cowgirl Stadium)

Nebraska 2 (17-23,1-10 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 2 2 1 0 0 9 2 0 Guile, Ashley c.......... 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 Liegl, Sammi pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Linke, Kelli dp.......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Hughes, Abby pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Long, Haley rf........... 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 0 0 1 0 1 3 4 1 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Hupp, Alex p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 24 2 5 2 2 3 18 12 5

Oklahoma State 8 (24-20,7-5 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Gearhart, Mariah ss...... 3 0 1 1 0 0 3 3 0 Bright, Katelyn lf....... 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Hamilton, Alysia 2b...... 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 2 3 Kaye, Kim rf............. 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 Castle, Megan dp......... 2 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 Kim, Heather 1b.......... 2 1 1 0 1 0 7 0 2 Phillips, Kati pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Boyd, Ashley c........... 2 2 1 0 1 1 3 2 0 Wagner, Meghan c........ 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Meza, Jessica 3b......... 3 1 1 3 0 1 1 1 3 Casaus, Breana cf........ 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 Odom, Sarah p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Crabtree, Amanda p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 27 8 10 7 4 2 21 12 9

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 101 0 - 2 5 1 Oklahoma State...... 012 140 X - 8 10 2 -----------------------------------------

E - Foland(9); M.Gearhart 2. LOB - Huskers 5; Cowgirls 9. 2B - M.Gearhart; J.Meza. HR - Carwile(7); K.Kaye. HBP - Long; M.Gearhart; M.Castle. SH - H.Kim; J.Meza. SF - Brechtel(1). SB - Carwile(9); B.Casaus. CS - Carwile(1); Barrett(2).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 4.2 8 6 6 2 2 20 24 76 Hupp, Alex.......... 0.0 1 2 1 2 0 1 4 19 Linke, Kelli........ 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 6 7 29

Oklahoma State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Odom, Sarah......... 4.0 4 1 1 1 2 15 16 61 Crabtree, Amanda.... 3.0 1 1 1 1 1 9 12 63

Win - S.Odom (8-4). Loss - Hill (7-12). Save - A.Crabtree (1). WP - Linke(1); Hill(11); Hupp(4). HBP - by Hupp (M.Gearhart); by A.Crabtree (Long); by Linke (M.Castle). BK - Hupp(1). PB - Guile 2(7). Pitches/strikes: Hill 76/43; Hupp 19/7; Linke 29/15; S.Odom 61/42; A.Crabtree 63/37. Umpires - 1B: Scott Brians 3B: Bart Hadley Start: 1:00 pm Time: 2:20 Attendance: 285 Game: livegame