Tulsa Rallies Past NU Again

Tulsa, Okla. - The Nebraska softball team was its own worst enemy on Sunday afternoon, as the Huskers committed two errors and allowed runs to score on a bases-loaded walk, a wild pitch and a double steal in a 6-4 loss at Tulsa.

Tulsa led 2-0 after Nebraska dropped two fly balls in the first inning, leading to a pair of unearned runs. The Huskers stormed back to take a 4-2 lead, but just as was the case in the previous two meetings this weekend, Tulsa rallied. The Golden Hurricane scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to post its third straight come-from-behind victory over Nebraska.

While the defensive miscues cost Nebraska in the loss, the Huskers also missed chances offensively. NU out-hit Tulsa 8-6, but scored two fewer runs, as the Huskers stranded 10 runners, including seven in scoring position from the third through the sixth innings.

Junior Julie Brechtel went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs, while senior Whitney Barrett returned to the lineup in a big way, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.

In the circle, junior right-hander Robin Mackin (5-4) took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits in a complete-game effort. Mackin also walked five and struck out seven. Jackie Lawrence (4-4) earned her second straight victory over Nebraska. Lawrence tossed a complete game, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits for Tulsa (11-9).

Nebraska got off to a rocky start in the first inning. The Huskers hit the ball hard in the top of the frame, but stranded a pair of runners. In the bottom of the frame, Tulsa scored twice despite recording only an infield single. The single and a dropped fly ball put runners on second and third with no outs. After a ground out, Tulsa scored the game's first run on another dropped fly ball. The Golden Hurricane then went on top 2-0 on a double steal with runners at first and third.

The Huskers got the runs back in the top of the third. A leadoff double from Barrett and an error put runners on first and second with no outs. After the first out was recorded, an infield single by sophomore Ashley Guile loaded the bases before Brechtel brought Barrett home with an RBI single to left on the first pitch she saw. Freshman Gabby Banda was then hit by a 1-2 pitch to bring junior Heidi Foland home with the tying run. NU still had the bases loaded with only one but could not add to the lead as the next two batters did not get the ball out of the infield.

Nebraska grabbed the lead one inning later when freshman Brooke Thomason belted a towering leadoff home run to right. Leading 3-2, a single from Barrett and a one-out walk to freshman pinch-hitter Keela Scott put runners on first and second with one out. Following a strikeout, Brechtel came through again with a clutch two-out, RBI single through the right side to score Barrett and give NU a 4-2 lead.

The Huskers stranded two more in scoring position and that would cost them in the bottom of the fourth. Christian Timmons began the inning with a solo home run before a bunt single and a double that skipped past a sliding Megan Southworth in right field put runners at second and third with no outs. Following a strikeout, an intentional walk loaded the bases before a first-pitch single from Samantha Cobb tied the game at 4-4.

Mackin then jumped ahead of the next hitter 0-2 before issuing a bases-loaded walk that forced in a run and gave Tulsa a 5-4 lead. Following a second strikeout, the Golden Hurricane added another run on a wild pitch.

The Huskers missed another scoring chance in the fifth, as Mackin led off with an infield single and advanced to second with no outs on a passed ball, but she was stranded there.

A pair of one-out walks gave Nebraska two more runners in the sixth, but a ground out and a line out ended the Huskers' final scoring threat, as NU was retired in order in the seventh.

Nebraska (11-10) wraps up the tournament travel portion of its schedule next weekend, when the Huskers travel to Tempe, Ariz., for the Diamond Devil Invitational, hosted by Arizona State.

Box Score 2010 Nebraska Softball Nebraska at Tulsa Mar 07, 2010 at Tulsa, Okla. (Hardesty Complex)

Nebraska 4 (11-10)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Foland, Heidi 1b......... 4 1 2 0 0 0 7 1 0 Haget, Nikki dp/lf....... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Scott, Keela ph/dp...... 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 Guile, Ashley c.......... 2 0 0 0 2 1 7 0 0 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 4 0 2 2 0 0 1 3 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 Mackin, Robin p.......... 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Southworth, Megan rf/lf.. 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 Hupp, Alex ph........... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Thomason, Brooke lf/rf... 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 3 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 Tyson, Tori cf........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 29 4 8 4 4 3 18 7 10

Tulsa 6 (11-9)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ EVERETT, Caitlin cf...... 4 1 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 LINDSAY, Lauren rf....... 2 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 COBB, Samantha ss........ 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 VICE, Vanessa 1b......... 2 0 0 2 1 0 6 0 1 SWANSON, Skylar 2b....... 2 0 0 0 1 2 1 2 0 STOELKE, Jessica lf...... 2 0 0 0 1 1 5 0 4 TIMMONS, Christian c..... 3 1 1 1 0 0 3 0 2 MENKE, Lauren dp......... 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 CHAPMAN, Kelly 3b........ 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 LAWRENCE, Jackie p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Totals................... 25 6 6 4 5 7 21 5 7

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 002 200 0 - 4 8 2 Tulsa............... 200 400 X - 6 6 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Southworth(2); Tyson(1). LOB - Huskers 10; Hurricane 7. 2B - Barrett(1); CHAPMAN, K.. HR - Thomason(2); TIMMONS, C.. HBP - Banda. SH - Haget(3). SF - VICE, V.. SB - LINDSAY, L.; VICE, V..

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Mackin, Robin....... 6.0 6 6 4 5 7 25 31 98

Tulsa IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- LAWRENCE, Jackie.... 7.0 8 4 4 4 3 29 35 121

Win - LAWRENCE, J. (4-4). Loss - Mackin (5-4). Save - None. WP - Mackin(3); LAWRENCE, J.. HBP - by LAWRENCE, J. (Banda). PB - TIMMONS, C.. Pitches/strikes: Mackin 98/62; LAWRENCE, J. 121/85. Umpires - HP: Rick Boyer 1B: Aaron Eller 3B: Susie Benzel Start: 1:55 pm Time: 2:20 Attendance: Game: NU21