Huskers Take Game One From Gophers

Lincoln - The 18th-ranked Nebraska softball team rallied from a two-run deficit to defeat Minnesota, 3-2, in the first game of a Wednesday doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium.

Junior Taylor Edwards led the comeback, doubling and scoring in the third and tying the game with her 10th home run of the year in the fifth. Edwards finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI, while sophomore Mattie Fowler was 3-for-3. Nebraska out-hit Minnesota 8-4, but two of the Golden Gophers' four hits were solo home runs.

Both home runs came in a two-run third inning for Minnesota. But freshman right-hander Emily Lockman rebounded from the long balls by retiring the final 13 batters in the game to improve to 12-3 on the year. She allowed two runs on four hits in a complete-game effort.

Sara Moulton (22-9) took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings. Nebraska improved to 31-9 overall and 9-3 in Big Ten Conference play with the victory, while the Golden Gophers fell to 26-14 and 9-4.

Nebraska missed an early scoring chance in the bottom of the first. Senior Gabby Banda reached on a one-out single before Taylor Edwards walked. But the runners were stranded at first and second.

The Huskers then left the bases loaded in the bottom of the second after recording three infield singles. Fowler began the frame with an infield single, before Minnesota recorded two outs. Freshmen Kiki Stokes and Alicia Armstrong reached on back-to-back infield singles before a ground out ended the inning.

Minnesota then grabbed a 1-0 lead when Kayla Wenner led off the top of the third inning with a solo home run. After the Huskers turned a double play, Kaitlyn Richardson made it 2-0 with a two-out solo home run.

The Huskers got a run back in the bottom of the frame. Taylor Edwards led off with a double and senior Brooke Thomason moved her to third with a ground out to first base. Freshman Hailey Decker then put down a squeeze bunt that scored Edwards. On the play, Minnesota attempted to get Edwards at home, throwing late and allowing Decker to reach first base. Fowler followed with a single to put Huskers on first and second before a double play ended the inning.

Nebraska then pulled even in the bottom of the fifth on a one-out solo home run from Edwards. After tying the game, a two-out rally gave the Huskers a 3-2 lead. Decker got the rally started with a 10-pitch walk before a single from Fowler and walk to senior Courtney Breault loaded the bases. Freshman Dawna Tyson then came on to pinch hit and she was plunked by a 1-0 pitch, scoring Decker with the go-ahead run.

That was enough for Lockman, who retired the final 13 batters.

Nebraska and Minnesota wrap up their doubleheader with game two.

Box Score

 

2013 Nebraska Softball Minnesota at #18 Nebraska (Game 1) Apr 16, 2013 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Minnesota 2 (26-14,9-4 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Walker, Tyler ss......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 0 Dorle, Kari c............ 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 Richardson, Kaitlyn 3b... 3 1 2 1 0 0 2 2 0 Blanchette, Bree cf...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Meyer, Erica lf.......... 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Eckstrom, Madie dp....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Davis, Alex 1b........... 3 0 0 0 0 1 9 0 0 Smyth, Erika 2b.......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 1 Palkovich, Paige ph..... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wenner, Kayla rf......... 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Moulton, Sara p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Kimminau, Kelsey p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 24 2 4 2 1 5 18 8 2

Nebraska 3 (31-9,9-3 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Armstrong, Alicia ss..... 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 3 Edwards, Taylor c........ 3 2 2 1 1 0 6 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Decker, Hailey 2b........ 1 1 0 1 1 0 3 2 2 Fowler, Mattie 1b........ 3 0 3 0 0 0 7 0 0 Breault, Courtney dp..... 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Edwards, Tatum pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bettiol, Jordan lf....... 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 Tyson, Dawna ph......... 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Stokes, Kiki cf.......... 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 Lockman, Emily p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 25 3 8 3 4 4 21 7 10

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Minnesota........... 002 000 0 - 2 4 1 Nebraska............ 001 020 X - 3 8 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Dorle(4). DP - Gophers 1; Huskers 1. LOB - Gophers 2; Huskers 10. 2B - Walker(10); Edwards, Tay(11). HR - Richardson(9); Wenner(5); Edwards, Tay(10). HBP - Tyson. SH - Decker(4). SB - Meyer(18).

Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Moulton, Sara....... 5.0 8 3 3 3 4 22 27 129 Kimminau, Kelsey.... 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 20

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Lockman, Emily...... 7.0 4 2 2 1 5 24 25 111

Win - Lockman (12-3). Loss - Moulton (22-9). Save - None. HBP - by Moulton (Tyson). Pitches/strikes: Moulton 129/78; Kimminau 20/11; Lockman 111/71. Umpires - HP: Scott Mair 1B: Matt Titkemeier 3B: Renee Williams Start: 4:03 pm Time: 2:15 Attendance: Game: livegame