Huskers Cruise Past Tigers, 7-3

Lincoln ? The Nebraska softball team plated runs in four of its six innings while totaling its highest hit and run totals of the Big 12 Conference season in a 7-3 win over the Missouri Tigers on Saturday in front of a season-high 684 fans at Bowlin Stadium.

 

The Huskers scored single runs in the first and third innings, before plating three in the fourth and two more in the sixth. Freshman Heidi Foland went 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored as Nebraska pounded out 13 hits in the contest, its second-highest output of the season. Foland's three hits were a career high, as were her three runs.

 

Along with Foland, the Huskers' No. 8 hitter, sophomore Whitney Barrett enjoyed a career day while hitting out of the No. 9 spot. Barrett finished 2-for-2 with a pair of runs and two RBIs. Her two hits tied her career high as did her two runs scored, while her two RBIs marked a new career best. Barrett also recorded her first career triple in the sixth. Overall, Foland and Barrett secured the bottom of the order by finishing 5-for-5 with five runs scored and three RBIs.

 

Behind their efforts, Nebraska won for the third time in its last four Big 12 games while improving to 22-26 overall and 4-13 in the league. With the loss, Missouri fell to 43-14 overall and 10-6 in Big 12 play.

 

Junior right-hander Molly Hill was solid in the circle, limiting the potent Missouri offense to just three runs. In a complete-game effort, Hill (12-15) was able to work around seven walks and five hits to post her third victory of the week. After allowing three runs in the second inning, Hill allowed just two hits and no runs over the final five frames.

 

Nebraska's offensive attack started early. Junior Crystal Carwile gave NU a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when she drilled an 0-2 pitch over the wall in right for a two-out, solo home run. The homer was Carwile's team-leading 11th of the season and moved her into a tie for second among all active Big 12 players with 11 career conference home runs. On the game, Carwile finished 3-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs.

 

A tight strike zone hurt the Huskers in the second, as Hill walked the bases loaded before a two-out infield single from Julie Silver tied the game at 1-1. Amanda Renth then ripped the next pitch to right for a two-run single to give Missouri a 3-1 lead.

 

In the bottom of the third, Carwile drove in another run to cut the deficit to 3-2. Foland led off with an infield single off the glove of the third baseman. With two outs, junior Darcy Rutherford was ruled safe at first on a bang-bang play to put runners at second and third. Carwile then sent the first pitch she saw back up the middle for an RBI single that scored Foland.

 

The Huskers regained the lead in the fourth with more clutch hitting. Junior Haley Long led off with a single and was at third with two outs. Foland then singled her home with a ground ball that skipped over the bag at third. After Foland stole second, Barrett blooped a single to center to score Foland and give Nebraska a 4-3 lead. NU added another run when junior Meghan Mullin reached on an infield single and Barrett was able to score from second when MU second baseman Andee Allen misplayed the ball.

 

NU pushed the lead to 7-3 with two more runs in the sixth. Foland led off with her third hit of the day before Barrett slugged her first career triple. Barrett then came home on an RBI ground out from Mullin.

 

Nebraska and Missouri wrap up the regular season tomorrow with a Noon first pitch in the Huskers' final home game of the 2008 season.

 

Nebraska Softball Missouri at Nebraska May 03, 2008 at Lincoln, Neb.

Missouri 3 (43-14,10-6 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rhea Taylor cf........... 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Julie Silver lf.......... 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 Amanda Renth 1b.......... 3 0 1 2 1 1 9 1 1 Jen Bruck p.............. 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 Lindsey Ubrun dp......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Andee Allen 2b........... 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 Kathryn Poet rf.......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Meredith Nash 3b......... 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 Abby Vock ss............. 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 Megan Christopher c...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 Totals................... 23 3 5 3 7 1 18 10 6

Nebraska 7 (22-26,4-13 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullin, Meghan cf........ 4 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 4 1 3 2 0 1 10 1 1 Guile, Ashley c.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 Long, Haley rf........... 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 3 3 3 1 0 0 5 4 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 2 2 2 0 0 1 5 0 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 Totals................... 28 7 13 6 0 4 21 15 5

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Missouri............ 030 000 0 - 3 5 1 Nebraska............ 101 302 X - 7 13 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Allen(9). DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Tigers 6; Huskers 5. 2B - Allen(14). 3B - Barrett(1). HR - Carwile(11). SH - Pascale(2); Barrett(2). SB - Silver(23); Foland(8). CS - Silver(6); Mullin(4).

Missouri IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Jen Bruck........... 6.0 13 7 6 0 4 28 30 85

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 7.0 5 3 3 7 1 23 30 105

Win - Hill (12-15). Loss - Bruck (16-8). Save - None. Pitches/strikes: Bruck 85/63; Hill 105/53. Umpires - HP: Scott Thomas 1B: James martarona 3B: Jeff Sloan Start: 3:32 pm Time: 1:56 Attendance: 684 Game: livegame