Homers Power Huskers Past Jacks

Cedar Falls, Iowa ? Sophomore Heidi Foland belted the first two home runs of her career to highlight another strong performance by the Husker offense, as the Nebraska softball team defeated South Dakota State 11-2 in six innings on Sunday at the UNI-Dome Classic in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Foland finished 2-for-3 and produced a career-high six RBIs. She belted a three-run homer in the Huskers' five-run fifth inning, then ended the game with a walk-off three-run blast in the sixth that wrapped up the run-rule victory. Nebraska hit three home runs on the game, its highest total since 2006. Nebraska also finished with three doubles, including two from sophomore Kelli Linke, who finished 2-for-3. Senior Brittany Pascale also enjoyed a terrific game, as she finished 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBIs.

Overall, six of the Huskers' 12 hits went for extra bases, as Nebraska has totaled at least 10 runs in winning each of its first three games. In 53 games a year ago, the Huskers scored at least 10 runs just twice.

In the circle, senior right-hander Molly Hill battled some early control problems to pick up her second victory of the season. Hill allowed just four balls to leave the infield in a complete-game effort, adding 10 strikeouts while allowing two runs on seven hits. Chelsey Evans (0-1) took the loss for South Dakota State (1-3), allowing three runs on five hits in four innings of work.

South Dakota State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. A walk and a bunt single put runners at first and second with one out, before Krystal Higgerson laced an RBI double to the gap in right center. With two more runners in scoring position and still only one out, Hill fought back with a pair of strikeouts to prevent further damage.

A leadoff double from Pascale,  a one-out walk to senior Haley Long and a wild pitch gave the Huskers runners at second and third with one out in the bottom of the frame, but NU was unable to plate a run.

Nebraska did plate a run with a two-out rally one inning later. After extending her career-long hitting streak to 13 games with a bunt single in the first, senior Meghan Mullin got the rally started with a two-out walk. She then stole second before senior Amanda Duran was hit by a pitch. Pascale then fell behind 0-2 and fouled off a two-strike pitch, before sitting back on a changeup and lacing an RBI single to right.

Linke followed with a ground-rule double to right that scored Duran to give Nebraska a 2-1 lead after three innings of play.

The Huskers stretched the lead to 3-1 with another two-out run in the bottom of the fourth. Foland was hit by a one-out pitch and then stole second. Senior Darcy Rutherford brought her home with a two-out RBI single up the middle.

Pascale continued her impressive day by ripping the first pitch from new pitcher Pam Nicholson over the fence in center for a solo home run to lead off the fifth. Pascale’s home run ignited a big inning for the Huskers. Nebraska moved in front 7-1 when Foland ripped a 3-2 pitch into the stands in right center for a three-run homer. Foland had fallen behind in the count 0-2 before fighting back to hit her first career home run. The Huskers added another run when Duran’s two-out RBI single to center scored Rutherford.

South Dakota State got a run back in the top of the sixth, as Gretah Stroh lined a two-out RBI single to right.'

Nebraska got the run back and then some when Foland's three-run blast ended the game by scoring Linke and junior Whitney Barrett.

The Huskers are currently facing host Northern Iowa in their final game of the UNI-Dome Classic.

Box Score 2009 Nebraska Softball South Dakota State vs Nebraska Feb 08, 2009 at Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI-Dome Classic)

South Dakota State 2 (1-3)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Postma, Brittany cf...... 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Postma, Brooke lf........ 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Durazo, Ashley ss........ 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 Broshar, Dani c.......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 3 Lunn, Kelsey 2b.......... 2 2 1 0 1 1 3 1 0 Evans, S. 1b............. 2 0 1 0 1 0 6 0 0 Higgerson, Krystal 3b.... 3 0 1 1 0 2 0 4 0 Stroh, Greta rf.......... 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 Evans, C. p.............. 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 2 Nicholson, Pam p........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 Totals................... 25 2 7 2 2 10 16 9 7

Nebraska 11 (3-0)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 Duran, Amanda c.......... 3 1 1 1 0 0 10 0 2 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 4 1 3 2 0 1 0 0 2 Gonzalez, Crystal pr.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Linke, Kelli 1b.......... 3 1 2 1 1 0 4 0 0 Haget, Nikki pr......... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Long, Haley rf........... 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 Hagemann, Ashley ph..... 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 3 3 2 6 0 0 1 3 2 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 26 11 12 11 4 4 18 6 8

Score by Innings R H E --------------------------------------- South Dakota State.. 010 001 - 2 7 0 Nebraska............ 002 153 - 11 12 0 ---------------------------------------

Note: 1 out, 0 runners LOB when the game ended.

DP - Jacks 1. LOB - Jacks 7; Huskers 8. 2B - Lunn; Higgerson; Pascale(1); Linke 2(2). HR - Pascale(1); Foland 2(2). HBP - Mullin; Duran; Barrett; Foland. SH - Long(1). SB - Postma, Bri.; Postma, Bro.; Rutherford(2); Mullin(3); Haget(1); Barrett(2); Foland(2).

South Dakota State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Evans, C............ 4.0 5 3 3 2 2 16 21 83 Nicholson, Pam...... 1.1 7 8 8 2 2 10 14 57

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 6.0 7 2 2 2 10 25 27 106

Win - Hill (2-0). Loss - Evans, C. (0-1). Save - None. WP - Evans, C.. HBP - by Evans, C. (Duran); by Evans, C. (Foland); by Evans, C. (Mullin); by Nicholson (Barrett). Pitches/strikes: Evans, C. 83/47; Nicholson 57/32; Hill 106/66. Umpires - Start: 4:38 pm Time: 1:54 Attendance: 85 Game: NU3