Huskers Lose Late Lead in 4-2 Loss

Lincoln - The Nebraska softball team lost a two-run lead in the seventh inning for the third time this season, as Drake scored twice in the seventh and twice in the eighth to rally for a 4-2 victory over the Huskers in game one of a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Bowlin Stadium.

Drake was down to its last out in the top of the seventh and had failed to record a hit. But that all changed when Molly McClelland broke up the no-hit bit in dramatic fashion by hitting a game-tying two-run homer off the scoreboard in left. hen with two outs in the eighth, an RBI double and a run-scoring single lifted the Bulldogs to the 4-2 victory.

Junior right-hander Robin Mackin (7-8) took the loss for Nebraska, despite throwing no-hit ball for the first 6.2 innings. In a complete-game effort, Mackin allowed four runs on only three hits, while striking out a season-high 11. All four of the runs Mackin allowed came with two outs as 15 of the last 17 runs Nebraska has allowed have scored with two outs.

The loss was Nebraska's first defeat at Bowlin Stadium this season, as the Huskers dropped their third straight game to fall to 17-16 on the season. NU also fell to 0-3 in extra innings this year.

Drake won for the ninth time in 10 games to improve to 19-7 on the season, including a 7-1 mark on the road. Jenna DeLong (10-3) earned the victory, allowing only two runs (one earned) in a complete-game effort. She scattered six hits and struck out 12

Nebraska out-hit Drake 6-3, but the Huskers stranded 10 runners, all through the first seven innings. Five Huskers produced a hit, including a 2-for-3 day from sophomore Ashley Guile that included an RBI double. Freshman Brooke Thomason drove in the Huskers' other run with an RBI single.

The game started off well, as the Huskers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Junior Julie Brechtel drew a one-out walk and scored on a two-out double off Guile's bat. A walk and an infield single then loaded the bases with two outs before freshman Gabby Banda struck out swinging on a 3-2 pitch.

Nebraska added another run in the bottom of the third. With one out, Guile's fly ball to deep right field bounced out of Bridget Shields' glove, allowing Guile to get all the way to second base. Thomason then lined an RBI single to right to put the Huskers on top 2-0.

NU nearly added to its lead in the fifth. With runners on first and second with two outs, Mackin hit a sharp grounder up the middle but shortstop Elena Leon made a diving stop and flipped to second from the ground for the final out.

The Huskers stranded another runner in the sixth and the missed opportunities would cost Nebraska the next inning. But after Mollohan's game-tying home run, the Huskers had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seven. Junior Heidi Foland was hit by a one-out pitch before Guile followed with a single. With runners on first and second and one out, a pair of strikeouts sent the game to extra innings.

After being given the lead, DeLong then struck out the side in the eighth to wrap up the victory.

Nebraska will look to rebound in game two of the doubleheader.

Box Score 2010 Nebraska Softball Drake at Nebraska (Game 1) Mar 30, 2010 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Drake 4 (19-7)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Leon, Elena ss........... 2 1 0 0 2 0 4 1 0 Vande Wall, Lindsey cf... 4 1 1 1 0 3 2 0 0 Bly, Erin dp............. 3 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 Duffek, Jaimie pr....... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Craddock, Torey 2b....... 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 Mollohan, Erin c......... 3 1 1 2 0 0 12 0 0 Shields, Bridget rf...... 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 Hatfield, Carrie 3b...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 McClelland, Molly 1b..... 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 Osborn, Mandy ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Kahler, Kelsey lf........ 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 DeLong, Jenna p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Totals................... 27 4 3 4 4 11 24 4 3

Nebraska 2 (17-16)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki dp.......... 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 Foland, Heidi 1b......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 0 Guile, Ashley c.......... 3 1 2 1 1 0 9 3 0 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 Mackin, Robin p.......... 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 4 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 1 4 Gonzalez, Crystal cf..... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Wright, Kirby ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 Southworth, Megan ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Tyson, Tori lf........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 30 2 6 2 4 12 24 8 10

Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------ Drake............... 000 000 22 - 4 3 1 Nebraska............ 101 000 00 - 2 6 1 ------------------------------------------

E - Shields, B(1); Barrett(11). LOB - Bulldogs 3; Huskers 10. 2B - Vande Wall(4); Guile(10). HR - Mollohan, E(3). HBP - Foland. SH - Gonzalez(1). SB - Haget(9); Foland(6). CS - Craddock, T(2).

Drake IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- DeLong, Jenna....... 8.0 6 2 1 4 12 30 36 159

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Mackin, Robin....... 8.0 3 4 4 4 11 27 31 132

Win - DeLong, J (10-3). Loss - Mackin (7-8). Save - None. HBP - by DeLong, J (Foland). Pitches/strikes: DeLong, J 159/95; Mackin 132/77. Umpires - HP: Ed Murphy 1B: Matt Titkemeier 3B: Scott Mair Start: 2:59 pm Time: 2:14 Attendance: Game: NU33