Four-Run Sixth Inning Propels NU to Victory

Lincoln - After seeing Oklahoma State take a 3-2 lead with two runs in the top of the sixth inning, the Nebraska softball team rallied for four runs in the bottom of the inning to defeat the Cowgirls 6-3 on Sunday in the first game of a Big 12 Conference doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium.

 

Nebraska took a 2-0 lead after one inning of play, but the Huskers were held to just one hit from the second through the fifth inning. Oklahoma State meanwhile plated one run in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 2-1, before Sam Heinlein ripped a two-out, two-run single in the top of the sixth to give the Cowgirls a 3-2 lead.

 

In the bottom of the frame, sophomore Julie Brechtel pulled the Huskers even by blasting a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right center for a game-tying solo home run, her third of the season and the first of her career at Bowlin Stadium. A walk, an infield single and a double steal gave NU runners at second and third with only one out before junior Whitney Barrett was retired on a bunt. Senior Meghan Mullin then came through with a clutch two-out, two-run single to left center to bring home sophomore Heidi Foland and senior Haley Long.

 

Leading 5-3, senior Darcy Rutherford then scored Mullin with an RBI single to cap the scoring. Senior right-hander Molly Hill then retired the Cowgirls in order in the top of the seventh to wrap up the win. Hill earned the victory with a complete-game effort. She allowed three runs on seven hits to improve to 15-4 on the season. Behind Hill's effort, the Huskers improved to 25-6 on the season, including a 2-1 record in Big 12 play.

 

Oklahoma State, which entered play on Sunday as the only Big 12 team with an undefeated league record, fell to 25-8 on the season and dropped to 2-1 in Big 12 play. Anna Whiddon (12-5) took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits in a complete-game effort.

 

Nebraska struck quickly for two runs in the bottom of the first. Mullin and Rutherford led off with back-to-back singles. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third with one out before senior Amanda Duran lined an RBI single to center to score Mullin. Fellow senior Brittany Pascale then scored Rutherford with an RBI singled up the middle. Brechtel then drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases with only one out, but the Huskers would have to settle for just the 2-0 lead.

 

Oklahoma State answered in the top of the fourth. Julie Ward doubled with one out and Megan Castle followed with an RBI single to cut the lead to 2-1. Hill escaped further damage by coaxing an inning-ending double play.

 

Both teams were retired in order in the fifth before combining for six runs on seven hits in the sixth.

The Huskers will look for a doubleheader sweep in game two.

Box Score 2009 Nebraska Softball Oklahoma State at Nebraska (Game 1) Mar 29, 2009 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Oklahoma State 3 (25-8,2-1 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Gearhart, Mariah 3b...... 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 Bright, Katelyn lf....... 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Hamilton, Alysia 2b...... 2 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 Ward, Julie 1b........... 3 1 1 0 0 1 5 0 1 Castle, Megan rf......... 3 0 2 1 0 0 4 0 0 Heinlein, Sam c.......... 3 0 1 2 0 0 3 1 0 Garcia, Chelsea ss....... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 Marcum, Taylor dp........ 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Anchors, Kelsey cf....... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Whiddon, Anna p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Totals................... 25 3 7 3 1 3 18 4 4

Nebraska 6 (25-6,2-1 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullin, Meghan cf........ 4 2 2 2 0 0 3 0 1 Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 10 0 1 Duran, Amanda c.......... 3 0 1 1 0 1 3 1 0 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 5 0 Long, Haley rf........... 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 Linke, Kelli ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 25 6 9 6 3 4 21 12 5

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Oklahoma State...... 000 102 0 - 3 7 0 Nebraska............ 200 004 X - 6 9 0 -----------------------------------------

DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Cowgirls 4; Huskers 5. 2B - J. Ward(4). HR - Brechtel(3). HBP - K. Anchors. SH - K. Bright(7); Long(6). SB - M. Gearhart(23); Foland(9); Long(6). CS - K. Anchors(4).

Oklahoma State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Whiddon, Anna....... 6.0 9 6 6 3 4 25 29 95

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 7.0 7 3 3 1 3 25 28 96

Win - Hill (15-4). Loss - A. Whiddon (12-5). Save - None. HBP - by Hill (K. Anchors). PB - S. Heinlein(6). Pitches/strikes: A. Whiddon 95/58; Hill 96/67. Umpires - HP: Phil Grom 1B: Todd Delph 3B: Kevin Killingsworth Start: 1:03 pm Time: 1:48 Attendance: Game: NU31