Huskers Fall to No. 22 UMass

Columbus, Ga. - The Nebraska softball team was shut out by one of the nation's top pitchers for the second straight game, as 22nd-ranked Massachusetts defeated the Huskers 3-0 on Friday morning at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.

Brandice Balschmiter, who tossed a two-hit shutout against defending national champion Arizona State in her last start, improved to 6-2 on the season by throwing her fifth shutout of 2009. Balschmiter allowed just four hits and struck out six for the Minutewomen (7-4).

While Balschmiter was able to collect the shutout, the Huskers had plenty of chances to crack the scoreboard. Nebraska left a total of six runners on base, including five in scoring position and two at third base. NU also had its leadoff batter reach base in four of the seven innings.

With the offense unable to plate a run, senior right-hander Molly Hill (4-2) suffered her second straight loss, despite allowing her first earned run in 13.0 innings. Hill allowed a season-high three earned runs on only five hits and struck out five. She was helped out by her defense, who turned two double plays in the game.

After Nebraska wasted a leadoff single in the top of the first, UMass cashed in a leadoff baserunner in the bottom of the frame to take a 1-0 lead. Whitney Williams was hit by a pitch to start the inning and was at second with two outs when Samantha Salato perfectly placed an RBI bloop single to shallow center field.

The Huskers missed another scoring chance in the second. Senior Amanda Duran and sophomore Heidi Foland began the inning with back-to-back singles before the next three hitters were retired.

NU missed two more chances to tie the game by stranding a runner at second in the fourth inning and a runner at third in the fifth. The Huskers' best chance to pull even came in the sixth, when Nebraska had runners at first and second with only one out before a pair of hard-hit grounders to short ended the threat.

UMass got two key insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as Hill struggled with her control. Hill walked two batters and hit a third, but the big blow came with two outs, when Carly Normandin hit a two-run homer to stretch the lead to 3-0. Each of the Minutewomen's three runs came with two outs, as every one the Huskers allowed in losses to UMass, Northwestern and Cal State Fullerton.

Offensively, Duran paced the Huskers by recording her second multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-3 effort. Foland and senior Darcy Rutherford added Nebraska's other two hits.

Nebraska (6-4) wraps up action on the first day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic at 3 p.m. (Central) against Penn State.

Box Score 2009 Nebraska Softball Nebraska vs #22 Massachusetts Feb 27, 2009 at Columbus, Ga. (South Commons)

Nebraska 0 (6-4)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 Gay, Jamie pr........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Duran, Amanda c.......... 3 0 2 0 0 0 5 2 0 Hupp, Alex pr........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 Long, Haley rf........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Linke, Kelli ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 0 Mackin, Robin ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 24 0 4 0 2 6 18 10 6

Massachusetts 3 (7-4)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Whitney Williams ss...... 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 2 Michelle Libby dp........ 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 Whitney Mollica 3b....... 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 Samantha Salato lf....... 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 Davina Hernandez pr..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sarah Reeves 1b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 11 2 1 Jessica Serio c.......... 2 0 0 0 1 1 5 2 0 Carly Morin pr.......... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carly Normandin cf....... 3 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 Jill Andrews rf.......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Audrey Boutin ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Kyllie Magill 2b......... 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 4 0 Brandice Balschmiter p... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Totals................... 19 3 5 3 4 6 21 16 5

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 000 0 - 0 4 1 Massachusetts....... 100 002 X - 3 5 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Foland(2); BALSCHMITER. DP - Huskers 2. LOB - Huskers 6; Minutewomen 5. HR - NORMANDIN. HBP - WILLIAMS; ANDREWS. SH - Long(2); MOLLICA. SB - Foland(3); NORMANDIN. CS - Rutherford(2); ANDREWS.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 6.0 5 3 3 4 6 19 26 121

Massachusetts IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Brandice Balschmiter 7.0 4 0 0 2 6 24 27 100

Win - BALSCHMITER (6-2). Loss - Hill (4-2). Save - None. HBP - by Hill (WILLIAMS); by Hill (ANDREWS). Pitches/strikes: Hill 121/69; BALSCHMITER 100/70. Umpires - HP: Katrina Kershaw 1B: Suzie Benzel 3B: James Martorona Start: 10:52 am Time: 1:58 Attendance: Game: NU10