Huskers Can't Hold Lead in 8-5 Loss

Minneapolis - The Nebraska softball team saw a five-run lead evaporate, as Minnesota scored the game's final eight runs in an 8-5 win over the Huskers that completed a doubleheader sweep at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on Saturday.

The Huskers exploded for five runs in the top of the first inning. Senior Nikki Haget began the inning with a triple, before junior Gabby Banda reached on an infield single. An error loaded the bases before senior Ashley Guile ripped a two-run RBI single down the left field line. Junior Brooke Thomason stretched the lead to 3-0 with an RBI double before classmate Courtney Breault capped the inning with a two-out, two-run single to center.

After stranding six runners through the first three innings, he Gophers rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth with help from the Huskers. The first two batters were retired before sophomore right-hander Tatum Edwards hit back-to-back batters. Kaitlyn Richardson then blasted a three-run homer to right to cut the lead to 5-3. A pair of infield singles, a walk and two Husker errors allowed two more runs to score, as Minnesota tied the game at 5-5. The five-run inning was the Gophers' third frame of the doubleheader where they scored at least five runs.

Minnesota then took the lead with two more two-out runs in the bottom of the fifth. After the first two batters were again retired, five straight Gophers reached base on three hits and a pair of walks, with two of those runners coming home to score and give Minnesota a 7-5 lead.

Trailing for the first time, senior Madison Drake walked and Haget followed with a single to put Huskers on first and second with one out in the top of the sixth. Nebraska then had the bases with two outs, but was unable to score.

The Gopher offense added an insurance run on an RBI ground out in the bottom of the sixth. That run marked the only time Minnesota scored with less than two outs in an inning. Kimminau then retired the Huskers in order in the top of the seventh.

Kimminau earned her second save of the season in relief of starter Alissa Koch, who earned the win. Koch (6-2) allowed only two earned run on the day and did not allow a run after the first inning. Her effort allowed time for Minnesota's offense to rallyl. The Gophers improved to 21-9 on the year with the win and moved to 3-2 in Big Ten play.

Tatum Edwards (6-3) took the loss for Nebraska. In a complete-game effort, Edwards allowed eight runs (six earned). She matched her career high with nine strikeouts, but walked six and hit three batters, while the Husker defense committed three errors for the second straight game.

Offensively, Nebraska out-hit Minnesota 11-10. Haget went 3-for-4 with a triple, while Banda, Guile and Breault had two hits each. Guile and Breault also added a pair of RBIs.

Nebraska (20-14, 3-2 Big Ten) and Minnesota wrap up their three-game series on Sunday at Noon.

Box Score 2012 Nebraska Softball Nebraska at Minnesota (Game 2) Mar 31, 2012 at Minneapolis, Minn. (Cowles Stadium)

Nebraska 5 (20-14,3-2 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki cf.......... 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 Edwards, Taylor c........ 3 1 0 0 1 0 9 0 1 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 4 1 2 2 0 0 8 0 3 Edwards, Tatum p......... 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 Fowler, Mattie ss........ 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 Breault, Courtney 2b..... 3 0 2 2 0 1 1 4 0 Bettiol, Jordan pr...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Drake, Madison lf........ 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Hagemann, Ashley dp...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 31 5 11 5 3 3 18 8 8

Minnesota 8 (21-9,3-2 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Walker ss................ 4 2 3 1 0 0 3 2 0 Richardson 3b............ 4 2 1 3 1 0 0 0 3 Davis 1b................. 3 1 2 0 1 1 6 0 0 Dorle c.................. 1 1 1 2 2 0 3 1 0 Solie pr................ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Eckstrom dp.............. 3 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 Meyer lf................. 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 7 Smyth 2b................. 2 1 0 0 1 1 4 1 2 Dupaul ph............... 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Granger rf............... 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Skrove rf............... 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Blanchette cf............ 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 Koch p................... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kimminau p.............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 28 8 10 6 6 9 21 6 12

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 500 000 0 - 5 11 3 Minnesota........... 000 521 X - 8 10 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Edwards, Tay(7); Guile(6); Breault(5); Richardson. DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Huskers 8; Gophers 12. 2B - Edwards, Tat(6); Thomason(10); Walker. 3B - Haget(1). HR - Richardson. HBP - Walker; Dorle; Blanchette. SH - Skrove. CS - Bettiol(1).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Edwards, Tatum...... 6.0 10 8 6 6 9 28 38 156

Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Koch................ 5.1 11 5 2 2 3 26 28 98 Kimminau............ 1.2 0 0 0 1 0 5 6 29

Win - Koch (6-2). Loss - Edwards, Tat (6-3). Save - Kimminau (2). WP - Edwards, Tat(5); Koch; Kimminau. HBP - by Edwards, Tat (Dorle); by Edwards, Tat (Blanchette); by Edwards, Tat (Walker). Pitches/strikes: Edwards, Tat 156/89; Koch 98/65; Kimminau 29/18. Umpires - HP: Naomi Erdahl 1B: Mark Oelfke 3B: Cathy Creighton Start: 3:17 pm Time: 2:12 Attendance: Game: NEB34