Errors Cost Huskers Chance at Upset

Cathedral City, Calif. - A pair of costly errors led to a four-run sixth inning for Northwestern, as the 12th-ranked Wildcats rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Nebraska softball team early Sunday morning in Cathedral City, Calif.

Nebraska led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but a one-out error loaded the bases and a two-out error that would have ended the inning opened the door for four unearned, two-out runs. The Huskers committed a season-high three errors in the game after having only two errors through their first seven contests combined.

The errors led senior right-hander Molly Hill (4-1) to suffer her first loss of the season. Hill did not allow an earned run over 5.2 innings, surrendering eight hits and three walks. With the loss, Nebraska fell to 6-2 on the season. Northwestern improved to 8-6, as Lauren Delaney (7-5) allowed four runs (three earned) in a complete-game effort.

Northwestern mounted the game's first scoring threat in the bottom of the first. A leadoff single and a hit batter gave the Wildcats runners at first and second with one out. Northwestern then loaded the bases with two outs, but Hill escaped the jam by striking out Erin Dyer on three pitches.

The Huskers got their first two runners on in the top of the second on a hit batter and a walk. Sophomore Heidi Foland then launched a 1-1 offering over the fence in left for a three-run home run, her third of the season.

Northwestern got a run back in the bottom of the third with the help of a Nebraska error. Hill retired the first two batters before an error prolonged the inning. The Wildcats then recorded back-to-back singles, with the second single bringing home one run and cutting the Huskers' lead to 3-1.

Nebraska snapped a string of seven straight batters retired when senior Brittany Pascale and junior Whitney Barrett reached on consecutive one-out singles in the top of the sixth. The Huskers were unable to move the runners however, as a strike out and a ground out ended the threat.

In the bottom of the inning, two more errors allowed the Wildcats to take a 5-3 lead. Northwestern had runners at first and second with one out for All-American Tammy Williams, who hit a hard one-hopper to short that Barrett was unable to field cleanly. With the bases loaded and still only one out, Barrett recorded a force out at home before another error allowed two runs to score and tie the game. Hill then issued a walk before Adrienne Monka ripped a 2-1 pitch to right field for a two-run single. Freshman right-hander Ashley Hagemann then relieved Hill and recorded a strikeout to prevent further damage.

Nebraska did not go quietly in the top of the seventh. A leadoff walk and a one-out single put the tying runners on base for senior Crystal Carwile, who lined a single into right field. On the play, the right fielder misplayed the ball, allowing senior Darcy Rutherford to score. With runners on first and second and only one out, senior Amanda Duran struck out swinging and Pascale fouled out to end the game.

Foland led Nebraska offensively with her three-run homer, while senior Meghan Mullin finished 2-for-3.

The Huskers close out play at the Cathedral City Classic against seventh-ranked Washington at approximately 12:30 p.m. (Central).

Box Score 2009 Nebraska Softball Nebraska vs #12 Northwestern Feb 22, 2009 at Cathedral City, CA (Big League Dreams)

Nebraska 4 (6-2)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 4 0 1 0 0 1 12 0 0 Gay, Jamie pr........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Duran, Amanda c.......... 4 0 0 0 0 3 5 1 0 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 Hupp, Alex pr........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 4 2 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 3 1 1 3 0 1 0 4 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 Long, Haley rf........... 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Hagemann, Ashley p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 26 4 6 3 4 6 18 13 7

Northwestern 5 (8-6)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Williams, Tammy ss....... 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 4 1 Thompson, Robin 3b....... 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 Pauly, Nicole 2b......... 3 1 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 Batts, Michelle dp....... 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Lilley, Megan pr........ 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Monka, Adrienne 1b....... 2 0 2 2 2 0 11 0 0 Euler, Aly pr........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dyer, Erin c............. 4 0 1 1 0 2 6 1 6 Dyer, Kelly cf........... 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 Quinn, Kelly rf.......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lafever, Ashley pr/rf... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wheeler, Jordan lf....... 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Haug, Emily ph.......... 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Delaney, Lauren p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Totals................... 29 5 8 5 3 5 21 13 10

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 030 000 1 - 4 6 3 Northwestern........ 001 004 X - 5 8 2 -----------------------------------------

E - Barrett(1); Brechtel 2(3); Williams, T.; Lafever, A.. LOB - Huskers 7; Wildcats 10. HR - Foland(3). HBP - Pascale 2; Pauly, N.. SB - Thompson, R.. CS - Mullin(1).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 5.2 8 5 0 3 4 28 32 107 Hagemann, Ashley.... 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 5

Northwestern IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Delaney, Lauren..... 7.0 6 4 3 4 6 26 32 125

Win - Delaney, L. (7-5). Loss - Hill (4-1). Save - None. WP - Delaney, L.. HBP - by Hill (Pauly, N.); by Delaney, L. (Pascale); by Delaney, L. (Pascale). PB - Duran(1). Pitches/strikes: Hill 107/65; Hagemann 5/3; Delaney, L. 125/71. Umpires - Start: 8:02 am Time: 2:04 Attendance: 200 Game: NU8