Huskers Top Panthers 7-2 in Game One

Lincoln - Senior Amanda Duran went 3-for-3 with three RBIs to lead the Nebraska softball team to a 7-2 victory over Northern Iowa in the first game of a doubleheader at a warm and sunny Bowlin Stadium on Wednesday.

Duran's big day included her team-leading ninth double of the season, while her three RBIs tied her career high. It also highlighted a balanced day from the Husker offense, as NU pounded out nine hits, including multi-hit games from Duran, fellow senior Meghan Mullin and junior Whitney Barrett. Mullin finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a walk and an RBI while Barrett went 2-for-2 with a run scored. Senior Crystal Carwile added a homer as part of a 1-for-3 day.

In the circle, senior right-hander Molly Hill earned the complete-game victory to improve to 21-9 on the season. Hill allowed only one earned run on just six hits while striking out six and walking just one. With the win, Nebraska improved to 31-13 on the season.

Northern Iowa fell to 30-18 with its second straight loss. Jen Larsen  (17-10) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits over 3.2 innings. Jaye Hutcheson came on in relief and was charged with three runs on three hits in 2.1 innings.

Despite the seven runs, Nebraska had a chance for more as the Huskers left eight on base in the game. NU missed a golden chance to take an early lead in the bottom of the first. A leadoff walk, a one-out walk and a two-out walk loaded the bases before a fly out to left ended the inning.

After the Huskers missed their opportunity, Northern Iowa took advantage of its first scoring chance to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Morgan Paulson led off with a bloop single just over the shortstop before Kelly Papesh lined an RBI single to left to bring home the game's first run.

NU stranded two more runners in scoring position following a pair of two-out infield singles in the bottom of the second. The Huskers then got a leadoff double from Duran in the bottom of the third before Carwile drilled the next pitch over the wall in right for a two-run homer.

Leading 2-0, the Huskers stretched their lead to 4-0 with two more runs in the fourth. Sophomore Heidi Foland led off with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Mullin then hit a grounder back to Larsen, who elected to go home but Foland beat the throw. Mullin then moved to second on a ground out before scoring when Duran lined an 0-2 pitch up the middle for a two-out RBI single.

In the top of the fifth, a one-out walk and a Husker error gave Northern Iowa runners at first and second with one out. Following a ground out Mackenzie Daigh reached on an infield single to score Papesh and cut the lead to 4-2.

The Panthers then got a leadoff double to start the sixth but were unable to advance the runner.

In the bottom of the frame, Barrett and Mullin reached on consecutive singles to start the inning. Rutherford then hit a ground ball back to the pitcher and Hutcheson wanted to go to third but no one was covering the bag, allowing every runner to reach safely and load the bases. Duran then brought Barrett and Mullin home with an RBI single through the left side.

Leading 6-2, NU still had runners at first and second with no outs. Rutherford then came home with the game's final run on a throwing error.

Box Score 2009 Nebraska Softball Northern Iowa at Nebraska (Game 1) Apr 22, 2009 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Northern Iowa 2 (30-18)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Machovec, Megan cf....... 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Daigh, Mackenzie ss...... 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 3 0 Larsen, Jen p/dp......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 Hutcheson, Jaye p....... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Gerking, Rachel rf....... 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 Waters, Samantha pr..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paulson, Morgan 1b....... 3 1 1 0 0 0 8 0 0 Balduf, Brittney 3b...... 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 Borschel, Hannah dp...... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Papesh, Kelly c.......... 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 Callanan, Lindsay lf..... 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 Keiper, Crystal 2b/pr.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 Totals................... 27 2 6 2 1 6 18 11 5

Nebraska 7 (31-13)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 Duran, Amanda c.......... 3 1 3 3 1 0 5 2 0 Haget, Nikki pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 1 1 2 1 0 8 0 0 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 Long, Haley rf........... 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Linke, Kelli ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 1 2 0 0 0 4 2 0 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 27 7 9 6 4 1 21 9 8

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Northern Iowa....... 010 010 0 - 2 6 1 Nebraska............ 002 203 X - 7 9 2 -----------------------------------------

E - Keiper; Foland(10); Hill(3). LOB - Panthers 5; Huskers 8. 2B - Gerking; Duran(9); Foland(6). HR - Carwile(5). SH - Rutherford(6); Barrett(2). SB - Duran(4). CS - Keiper.

Northern Iowa IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Larsen, Jen......... 3.2 6 4 4 3 0 16 21 73 Hutcheson, Jaye..... 2.1 3 3 3 1 1 11 12 46

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 7.0 6 2 1 1 6 27 28 97

Win - Hill (21-9). Loss - Larsen (17-10). Save - None. WP - Hill(12). Pitches/strikes: Larsen 73/45; Hutcheson 46/26; Hill 97/68. Umpires - HP: Andy Hahn 1B: Kevin Killingsworth 3B: Ed Murphy Start: 3:02 pm Time: 1:57 Attendance: Game: NU44