Husker Rally Falls Short in 3-2 Loss

Norman, Okla. - Oklahoma scored runs in each of the first three innings and held off two late Husker rallies in a 3-2 win over the Nebraska softball team on Sunday at a windy and chilly OU Softball Complex in Norman, Okla.

The Sooners struck for single runs in each of the first three innings to take control of the game. After the early runs, OU had just one hit over the final 3.2 innings. Contrastly, NU had only two baserunners through the first three innings but had seven on base while scoring twice from the fourth to the sixth inning.

The Huskers, who lost for a season-high fourth straight time, fell to 25-10 on the year and 2-4 in the Big 12 Conference. Each of Nebraska's three road losses in conference action have all come by just a single run and all to top-20 teams. Oklahoma, ranked 12th in the country, improved to 30-11 with its third straight win and 7-3 in league play.

Senior right-hander Molly Hill (15-6) suffered her third straight loss for NU. Hill was charged with three runs on five hits in a complete-game effort, but she settled down after the early struggles to retire 11 of the final 13 batters she faced. Freshman Allee Allen earned the win in relief for OU, improving to 14-2 on the season by allowing one unearned run in 3.1 innings.

In the bottom of the first, Oklahoma took a 1-0 lead on a strange play. Evan Sallis led off with an infield single and stole second. With one out, Samantha Ricketts ripped a low line drive to the wall in left center that scored Sallis. On the play, Ricketts wound up at second but the Huskers won an appeal that she did not touch first base, so Ricketts was ruled out, but the run still stood.

OU took a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-out RBI single from Haley Anderson.

The Sooners moved in front 3-0 in the third on a leadoff home run from All-American Amber Flores.

Nebraska mounted its first scoring threat in the top of the fourth, as back-to-back one-out walks and a two-out hit batter loaded the bases. Junior Whitney Barrett then drew a four-pitch walk to bring in freshman pinch-runner Nikki Haget from third and cut the lead to 3-1. OU then brought in Allen to get out of the jam, which she did by coaxing a fly out to right on a 3-2 pitch.

The Huskers mounted another threat in the fifth, as senior Meghan Mullin coaxed a leadoff walk. She was at second with one out before being thrown out at third on a ground ball off the bat of sophomore Kelli Linke. Senior Amanda Duran then reached on a two-out single up the middle to put the tying runners on base before Allen came back from a 3-0 count to record an inning-ending strikeout.

Nebraska got another run back in the top of the sixth. Senior Crystal Carwile reached on a one-out double, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly from Barrett. Sophomore Heidi Foland was up next and she narrowly missed a home run by hammering a pitch just foul down the left field line before striking out.

In the top of the seventh, Mullin led off with a single to give NU one last chance. Rutherford then got ahead in the count 3-0 before striking out. Junior Alex Hupp followed with hit a hard fly ball to the gap in left center that the wind held up long enough for Chana'e Jones to come over from left and make the catch. Duran then lined out to third to end the game.

Duran finished with one of the Huskers' four hits, as Oklahoma out-hit Nebraska 5-4. Carwile finished with a double and a run scored, while Mullin and Linke added NU's other hits. Barrett did not have a hit but did tie her career high with two RBIs. The Huskers also drew five walks.

NU continues its road trip on Wednesday, when Nebraska travels to Lawrence, Kan., for a doubleheader with the Kansas Jayhawks.

Box Score 2009 Nebraska Softball Nebraska at #12 Oklahoma Apr 05, 2009 at Norman, Okla. (OU Softball Complex)

Nebraska 2 (25-10,2-4 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullin, Meghan cf........ 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 1 Linke, Kelli rf.......... 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Long, Haley rf.......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex rf........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Duran, Amanda c.......... 3 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 2 Haget, Nikki pr......... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 2 1 1 0 0 0 8 1 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 1 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 3 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Totals................... 23 2 4 2 5 8 18 7 8

Oklahoma 3 (30-11,7-3 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Sallis, Evan rf.......... 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 Flores, Amber 2b......... 3 1 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 Ricketts, Samantha 1b.... 3 0 1 1 0 0 5 0 0 Vandever, Lindsey c...... 1 0 0 0 2 0 8 0 0 Norris, Katie dp......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Long, Karolyne ss........ 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 Dobbs, Dani 3b........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 2 Jones, Chana'e lf........ 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Huey, Krystle pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Anderson, Haley cf....... 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 Mathis, D.J. p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Allen, Allee p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 22 3 5 3 3 2 21 5 5

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 101 0 - 2 4 1 Oklahoma............ 111 000 X - 3 5 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Carwile(4). DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Huskers 8; Sooners 5. 2B - Carwile(7). HR - Flores. HBP - Carwile. SH - Mullin(3); Dobbs. SF - Barrett(1). SB - Sallis; Anderson.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 6.0 5 3 3 3 2 22 26 94

Oklahoma IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Mathis, D.J......... 3.2 1 1 1 4 4 11 17 70 Allen, Allee........ 3.1 3 1 0 1 4 12 14 67

Win - Allen (14-2). Loss - Hill (15-7). WP - Hill(7). HBP - by Mathis (Carwile). PB - Vandever. Pitches/strikes: Hill 94/48; Mathis 70/38; Allen,A 67/38. Umpires - HP: Larry Nagel 1B: Mike Hall 3B: Scott Thomas Start: 1:01 pm Time: 2:11 Attendance: 461 Game: NU35