Huskers Fall in Extra Innings

Columbus, Ga. - Four errors doomed the Nebraska softball team in a 5-4 eight-inning loss to Central Florida on Saturday night at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

The Huskers never led in the game but rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 4-3 to force extra innings. But the Knights scored once in the top of the eighth and Nebraska missed two chances to get a runner home from third base with one out in the bottom of the frame, as the Huskers fell to 8-7 on the season.

Ashleigh Cole (4-4) earned the win for UCF by tossing 2.0 innings of hitless relief. Junior right-hander Robin Mackin was the hard-luck loser for Nebraska, as she allowed three earned runs on just five hits in a complete-game effort that feature a season-high 10 strikeouts. Mackin also added two hits at the plate, including the 100th hit of her career. Freshman Gabby Banda also finished with two hits while picking up one RBI.

The Knights took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second. A leadoff walk was cashed in when Arielle Palafox sent a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right for a two-run homer. UCF then made it 3-0 when two batters reached on an error and the first came home to score when Nebraska committed a third error on a stolen base attempt.

The Huskers answered in the bottom of the frame. Mackin and freshman Brooke Thomason led off with consecutive singles, before Banda scored Mackin with a two-strike, RBI single to center. Freshman Megan Southworth made it 3-2 when she grounded the next pitch up the middle for another RBI single. The Huskers then tied the game when Banda came home on a wild pitch.

UCF then took a 4-3 lead when Abby McClain hit a two-out, solo home run to center field in the fifth to snap Mackin's string of nine consecutive batters retired.

The Huskers got the run back in the bottom of the sixth. Mackin reached on a one-out single and Thomason followed with a walk. Then with two outs, Banda reached on an infield single and on the play, a throwing error allowed Mackin to score the tying run.

Nebraska had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, as senior Whitney Barrett reached on an error to begin the frame, but she was stranded on third.

In the top of the eighth, McClain began the inning at second base in accordance with the international tie breaker. After a strikeout, a bloop double that landed just fair down the left field line put runners at second and third. A hard-hit infield single off Banda at third brought McClain home and gave the Knights a 5-4 lead. Barrett then made a terrific diving grab on another blooper before a ground out prevented any further runs.

Sophomore Madison Drake came on to pinch run as Nebraska's runner at second base in the bottom of the eighth. Mackin moved her to third with a ground out before two more ground outs ended the Huskers' comeback hopes.

Nebraska (8-7) closes play in the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday with an 11:30 a.m. contest with Virginia Tech.

Box Score 2010 Nebraska Softball Central Florida vs Nebraska Feb 27, 2010 at Columbus, Ga. (South Commons Cmplx)

Central Florida 5 (6-8)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ McClain, Abby c.......... 4 2 1 1 0 2 4 0 3 Land, Natalie ss......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Lane, Tiffany ss........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 Menendez, Marissa 2b..... 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 2 0 Barrow, Hillary 3b....... 3 1 1 1 1 0 1 5 0 Cole, Ashleigh dp/p...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 Palafox, Arielle 1b...... 4 1 1 2 0 2 14 0 2 Tyler, Mary Helen rf..... 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Perez, Vanessa cf........ 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Bullard, Morgan lf....... 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 DeMello, Kristina p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 30 5 5 4 2 10 24 15 5

Nebraska 4 (8-7)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Foland, Heidi 2b......... 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 Haget, Nikki lf.......... 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 1 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mackin, Robin p.......... 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Wright, Kirby c.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 9 1 1 Hupp, Alex ph........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 1 2 1 0 0 2 4 0 Southworth, Megan dp..... 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 Tyson, Tori cf........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 31 4 6 2 1 4 24 9 6

Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------ Central Florida..... 030 010 01 - 5 5 2 Nebraska............ 030 001 00 - 4 6 4 ------------------------------------------

E - Menendez; Barrow; Foland; Haget; Banda 2. DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Knights 5; Huskers 6. 2B - Menendez. HR - McClain; Palafox. HBP - Guile. SH - Cole. SB - Bullard.

Central Florida IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- DeMello, Kristina... 6.0 6 4 3 1 3 24 26 107 Cole, Ashleigh...... 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 7 7 23

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Mackin, Robin....... 8.0 5 5 3 2 10 30 33 112

Win - Cole (4-4). Loss - Mackin (5-3). Save - None. WP - DeMello 4. HBP - by DeMello (Guile). Pitches/strikes: DeMello 107/69; Cole 23/13; Mackin 112/73. Umpires - Start: 6:29 pm Time: 2:07 Attendance: Game: NU15