Huskers Open Fall Classic With Two Wins

Lincoln ? The Nebraska softball team kicked off its fall season with a pair of victories in front of nearly 400 fans on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Bowlin Stadium. The Husker defense stole the show in game one as NU topped Nebraska-Omaha 1-0. The Husker offense was the story of game two, as Nebraska defeated Augustana College, 8-0, in five innings.

 

In game one against Nebraska-Omaha, senior Molly Hill tossed a two-hit shutout and added 11 strikeouts as the Huskers won 1-0. A third-inning throwing error following a bunt single gave Hill the only run she would need.

 

In game two, Nebraska pounded out 10 hits in only four innings, scoring eight times to cruise to the run-rule victory over Augustana. Sophomore Tori Tyson picked up the victory, allowing four hits in a shutout performance, but the story of the game was the Husker offense.

 

Senior Darcy Rutherford was the star at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs. Hitting behind her in the No. 3 spot in the lineup was senior Crystal Carwile, who finished 1-for-2 with a double, a run scored and three RBIs. Sophomore Crystal Gonzalez, seeing her first game action since March of 2006, went 2-for-2 after recovering from her second consecutive knee surgery last spring.

 

A pair of freshmen also collected hits in the win over the Vikings, as Kirby Wright finished 1-for-2 while Beatrice native Jamie Gay went 1-for-2 with a double off the bench.

 

Nebraska returns to action tomorrow at Noon against Augustana. NU then closes the Husker Fall Classic against UNO at 5 p.m. at Bowlin Stadium. Admission and parking are free for both games.

 

Nebraska ? 1
Nebraska-Omaha - 0

Senior Molly Hill tossed a two-hit shutout to lead Nebraska to a 1-0 victory over UNO. The Nebraska offense had hits from five different players, but managed to scratch across just one unearned run.

 

Hill finished with 11 strikeouts against just one walk in her first outing of the fall. The 2007 Big 12 Conference ERA champion, Hill did not allow a runner past second base on the day. Beth Haley took the loss for UNO, allowing one unearned run, while striking out one and walking one in a complete-game effort of her own. Haley, a left-hander, presented a challenge to a Nebraska lineup that featured five left-handed hitters.

 

Nebraska scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a UNO throwing error. Senior Amanda Duran reached on a one-out single and freshman pinch-runner Nikki Haget moved up to second one batter later on a ground out. Senior Meghan Mullin then beat out a bunt single and Haley threw late and wildly to first, allowing Haget to score.

 

In the top of the sixth, UNO mounted its best scoring chance of the game. Alli Hukill led off with a bloop double over third base that glanced off the glove of a diving Whitney Barrett and rolled up against the wall in foul territory. Hill bounced back to strike out the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters before coaxing a ground out to second to end the threat.

 

Senior Crystal Carwile paced the offense with a double, while Mullin, Alex Hupp, Heidi Foland and Amanda Duran each collected a single.

 

Nebraska - 8

Augustana - 0 (5 innings)

Nebraska pounded out 10 hits and scored eight runs in only four innings as the Huskers rolled to an 8-0 run-rule victory over Augustana in the Huskers' second game of the day on Saturday.

 

Senior Darcy Rutherford paced the offensive attack, finishing 3-for-3 with three RBIs in the victory. The performance was especially gratifying for Rutherford, as her twin sister Ally was the starting shortstop for Augustana.

 

Fellow senior Crystal Carwile also drove in three, recording a two-run double and a sacrifice fly. Sophomore Crystal Gonzalez finished 2-for-2 in her first game in a Nebraska uniform since March of 2006. Seven Huskers finished with at least one hit in the win, including freshmen Kirby Wright and Jamie Gay, who both singled for their first career hits in a Nebraska uniform.

 

Nebraska jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead against the Vikings. Senior Meghan Mullin drew a leadoff walk before Rutherford reached on an infield single. Rutherford stole second and Carwile ripped a two-run double. Carwile then scored herself on a wild pitch two batters later.

 

The Huskers added to their lead with two more runs in the second. Junior Whitney Barrett and Gonzalez led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Both runners moved into scoring position on a ground out and Mullin loaded the bases when she reached safely on an infield single when no Augustana player covered first base. Rutherford then ripped a two-run single to left center to put Nebraska in front, 5-0.

 

After being held off the scoreboard in the third, Nebraska put up three runs in the fourth. Gonzalez and Wright recorded consecutive singles to start the frame. With runners on first and second and one out, freshman pinch-runner Nikki Haget scored on an RBI double off the bat of Rutherford. Mullin then scored on one-out sacrifice fly from Carwile and Rutherford raced home to cap the run-rule victory on a wild pitch.

 

The offensive support was more than enough for sophomore right-hander Tori Tyson, who posted a shutout in the circle. Tyson allowed jsut four hits and struck out three against the Vikings.

 

Chelsey Durland suffered the loss for Augustana, as she allowed eight runs on 10 hits in a complete-game effort.