Duran Powers NU Past Penn State

Columbus, Ga. - Senior Amanda Duran homered, scored twice and produced two RBIs as the Nebraska softball team defeated Penn State, 5-2 on Saturday in the conclusion of Friday's postponed game at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

The Huskers and Nittany Lions resumed play on Saturday nearly 27 hours after first pitch on Friday. Nebraska trailed 1-0 when play began on Saturday, but it didn't take long for the Huskers to take the lead.

The resumption of the game began with Penn State batting with a runner on first and two outs in the top of the second. After junior Robin Mackin got out of the inning with a ground out, the Huskers tied the game in the bottom of the frame. Duran led off with a single before a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases with only one out. Jackie Hill then relieved Penn State starter Lisa Akamine and got a pop out before hitting junior Alex Hupp to bring Duran home with the tying run.

The Huskers then loaded bases with no outs in the third before sophomore Heidi Foland ripped a long RBI single off the fence in left center to put NU in front 2-1.

While Nebraska was happy to score two runs in its first two innings on Saturday, the Huskers missed opportunities to break the game open. NU stranded six runners on base in the second and third innings. The Huskers scored just once in the second when they had the bases loaded and only one out and again plated only one run in the third when they had the bases loaded with no outs and a run already in.

Missing an opportunity to add more runs nearly cost the Huskers in the fourth. Mackin walked the first two batters of the inning, but came back to retire the next two hitters. A third walk loaded the bases and Mackin then threw a ball to the next hitter. Freshman Ashley Hagemann, who pitched the first 1.2 innings on Friday, then re-entered to pitch and got a pop up to end the threat.

Penn State did come back and score in the fifth. A one-out double and a single tied the game at 2-2 and the Nittany Lions had a runner at third with only one out. Hagemann came back to strike out the next batter before senior right-hander Molly Hill entered the game and got an inning-ending ground out.

Duran gave the Huskers the lead right back by leading off the bottom of the inning with a solo homer that proved to be the difference. Duran worked the count full and fouled off one 3-2 pitch before launching a towering shot to left center.

Fighting a shrinking strike zone as the game wore on, three more walks loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth. Hill escaped the jam though by getting another ground out.

Duran gave the Huskers some insurance in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on first and second, Duran ripped an RBI single through the left side that scored fellow senior Haley Long. On the play, senior Darcy Rutherford scored on a throwing error to put NU ahead 5-2.

The Nittany Lions did not go quietly in the seventh. A one-out walk and a single brought the tying run to the plate before Hill retired the final two batters.

Hill (5-2) picked up the victory by tossing 2.1 innings of one-hit relief. Overall, the Huskers (7-4) allowed just four hits on the game, but NU issued a season-high 10 walks.

Offensively, Duran finished 3-for-3 while tying her career highs in hits, runs scored and RBIs.

Nebraska has added a game to its schedule and the Huskers are now scheduled to wrap up play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday at 9 a.m. (Central) against 13th-ranked DePaul.

Box Score 2009 Nebraska Softball Penn State vs Nebraska Feb 27, 2009 at Columbus, Ga. (South Commons)

Penn State 2 (5-5)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Akamine, Lisa p/rf....... 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Griffith, Ashley lf...... 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 Kinley, Danielle 1b...... 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 Giordano, Desi dp/ss..... 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 Hill, Jackie ss/p........ 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 Smith, Carnie pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zielinski, Kayce 2b...... 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 Hovanec, Sam cf.......... 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 Collett, Danee c......... 1 0 0 0 2 0 9 1 1 Crivellaro, Christan rf/d 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 Madura, Shana 3b......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Totals................... 23 2 4 2 10 3 18 3 11

Nebraska 5 (7-4)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 3 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 1 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 4 0 1 0 0 0 8 0 1 Duran, Amanda c.......... 3 2 3 2 0 0 4 1 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 1 0 1 1 2 0 3 0 0 Mackin, Robin dp/p....... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 Linke, Kelli ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 2 0 Hagemann, Ashley p/dp.... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 Hill, Molly p........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 Hupp, Alex rf............ 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Long, Haley rf.......... 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 Totals................... 23 5 7 4 5 7 21 8 10

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Penn State.......... 010 010 0 - 2 4 1 Nebraska............ 011 012 X - 5 7 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Griffith; Duran. LOB - NittanyLions 11; Huskers 10. 2B - Griffith; Rutherford. HR - Giordano; Duran. HBP - Mackin; Hupp. SH - Griffith; Rutherford; Duran; Foland. CS - Crivellaro; Foland.

Penn State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Akamine, Lisa....... 2.1 2 1 1 2 1 8 12 40 Hill, Jackie........ 3.2 5 4 3 3 6 15 21 98

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 2.2 3 2 2 1 1 11 12 51 Mackin, Robin....... 2.0 0 0 0 5 1 4 10 51 Hill, Molly......... 2.1 1 0 0 4 1 8 12 54

Win - Hill (5-2). Loss - Hill (2-4). Save - None. WP - Akamine; Mackin. HBP - by Akamine (Mackin); by Hill (Hupp). Pitches/strikes: Akamine 40/20; Hill 98/62; Hagemann 51/31; Mackin 51/22; Hill 54/28. Umpires - HP: Tim Kasate 1B: Doug Zimmerman 3B: Katrinz Kershaw Start: 3:23 pm Time: 2:46 Attendance: Hill faced 2 batters in the 6th. Game: NU11