Tigers Defeat Huskers in Pitchers' Duel

Auburn, Ala. ? Auburn hit only three balls out of the infield all game, but the Tigers used a small-ball approach to defeat the Nebraska softball team 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Jane B. Moore Field.

The loss snapped the Huskers' six-game win streak as Nebraska fell to 6-4 on the year. Junior right-hander Robin Mackin was the hard-luck loser, as she is now 3-2 on the season. Mackin allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits - including three infield singles - and struck out five.

Angel Bunner (1-0) earned the win for Auburn, allowing one run on four hits in 3.2 innings. The Tigers won their second straight game to improve to 5-3 on the season.

Nebraska was held to a season-low one run and four hits. Sophomore Nikki Haget went 2-for-3 and scored the Huskers' only run, as she stretched her hitting streak to eight games, including six multi-hit efforts in that stretch.

Runs were hard to come by right from the start. Nebraska had two runners on with one out in the top of the first and Auburn had two runners on with no outs in the bottom of the second, but neither team was able to plate a run.

The Huskers then converted a scoring chance in the fourth. Haget led off with a bloop double to shallow center field. She advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored when sophomore Ashley Guile lined a 2-2 changeup into centerfield for an RBI single.

Auburn answered in the bottom of the frame. The first two batters reached on ground balls that hugged the chalk down the first base line for a single and a double. With runners on second and third and no outs, Mackin recorded a strikeout but after securing the punch out, the ball got away from sophomore catcher Kirby Wright, allowing the tying run to score. It also allowed the runner at second to go to third, which came in to play one batter later on a successful squeeze bunt that turned into an RBI single to give Auburn a 2-1 lead.

After the RBI bunt single, Mackin retired the final eight batter she faced. But Anna Thompson came on and earned the save for Auburn, tossing three hitless innings and striking out seven.

Nebraska will look to rebound on Sunday at 9 a.m. against Ohio.

Nebraska vs Auburn (Feb 20, 2010)

• Box score

Box Score 2010 Nebraska Softball Nebraska at Auburn Feb 20, 2010 at Auburn, Ala. (Jane B. Moore)

Nebraska 1 (6-4)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Foland, Heidi 2b......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 Haget, Nikki lf.......... 3 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 2 0 1 1 1 0 7 1 0 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex dp............ 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 2 0 1 0 1 0 3 2 0 Wright, Kirby c.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 0 Mackin, Robin p.......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 Southworth, Megan ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Tyson, Tori rf........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Gonzalez, Crystal cf..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 22 1 4 1 3 7 18 8 4

Auburn 2 (5-3)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Clyde, Krista rf......... 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 Stangl, Caitlin cf....... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Cartwright, Kelsey 2b.... 3 0 0 0 0 1 5 2 1 Harrison, Amber dp....... 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 White, Kyndall 3b........ 3 1 2 0 0 0 1 3 0 Eisterhold, Elizabet c... 3 0 0 0 0 2 7 1 0 Stephens, Baylee pr..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Smiley, Kelley 1b........ 3 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 Guzman, Lauren ss........ 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 2 2 Colton, Katie lf......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Harrelson, Lindsey lf... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Schmalz, Lauren p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bunner, Angel p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thompson, Anna p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 23 2 5 1 2 5 21 8 5

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 100 0 - 1 4 1 Auburn.............. 000 200 X - 2 5 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Wright. DP - Tigers 1. LOB - Huskers 4; Tigers 5. 2B - Haget; White. SH - Hupp. SB - Clyde.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Mackin, Robin....... 6.0 5 2 1 2 5 23 25 88

Auburn IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Schmalz, Lauren..... 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 Bunner, Angel....... 3.2 4 1 1 1 0 12 14 54 Thompson, Anna...... 3.0 0 0 0 2 7 9 11 50

Win - Bunner (1-0). Loss - Mackin (3-2). Save - Thompson (1). WP - Bunner. Pitches/strikes: Mackin 88/52; Schmalz 3/2; Bunner 54/35; Thompson 50/33. Umpires - HP: Craig Hyde 1B: Gary Mitchell 3B: Larry Raines Start: 1:01 pm Time: 2:03 Attendance: Game: NU10