Huskers Rally Past No. 9 Michigan

Lincoln - The 16th-ranked Nebraska softball team scored five times in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally for a 7-4 victory over No. 9 Michigan on a warm Senior Day at Bowlin Stadium on Sunday.

Nebraska, which fell behind 4-0 early, turned the tables on the Wolverines, who scored four times in their final at bat in a 5-3 come-from-behind victory on Saturday. The Huskers scored seven unanswered runs on Sunday to win a conference series over a top-10 opponent for the first time since sweeping a two-game Big 12 series from No. 5 Oklahoma in 2001. The Huskers, who won their 10th game of the season in their final at bat, improved to 37-11 on the year and moved to 14-5 in Big Ten Conference play.

Michigan, which had a chance to clinch the Big Ten regular-season title, fell to 41-9 and 17-2 in conference play.

Michigan used a two-run second inning and single runs in the third and fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. Nebraska's offense then produced its first hits and runs in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Courtney Breault led off the inning with the Huskers' first hit, a single to center. Junior Tatum Edwards then lined a two-run homer over the fence in left to cut the lead to 4-2.

The pitching combination of starter Emily Lockman and reliever Tatum Edwards kept Michigan scoreless, allowing for a final Nebraska rally.

The Huskers still trailed by two entering the bottom of the sixth when Tatum Edwards and junior pinch-hitter Kylee Muir began the inning with back-to-back singles. Freshman Hailey Decker then lifted a 2-2 pitch off the scoreboard in left for a towering, go-ahead three-run homer.

Leading 4-3, Nebraska wasn't finished. Sophomore Jordan Bettiol kept the big inning going with a single to center. A walk to senior Gabby Banda and a walk to junior Taylor Edwards loaded the bases with one out. Senior Brooke Thomason then produced a two-run double that capped the inning and gave the Huskers a 7-4 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Edwards faced the minimum. After a leadoff walk, Nebraska turned its third double play of the game before a pop out to short secured the Husker victory.

Decker's game-winning home run paced Nebraska's offensive attack, as she finished 2-for-3 and tied her career high with three RBIs. Tatum Edwards hit her 10th home run of the season as part of a 2-for-3 day that included two RBIs and two runs scored. The seniors also performed well on their day. Thomason was 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs, while Breault was 1-for-3. Banda did not record a hit, but walked twice and scored a run. Taylor Edwards was 0-for-1 but she tied her own school record by being hit by three pitches in the game.

Tatum Edwards (23-8) earned her second victory of the weekend against Michigan, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings of hitless relief. Lockman allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits over the first 4.0 innings.

Following the series win over Michigan, Nebraska wraps up the regular season with a three-game series on Saturday, Sunday and Monday next weekend at Penn State.

Box Score

 

2013 Nebraska Softball #9 Michigan at #16 Nebraska Apr 28, 2013 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Michigan 4 (41-9,17-2 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Crummey, Jaclyn rf....... 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Romero, Sierra ss........ 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 0 Blanchard, Caitlin 1b.... 3 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 Lane, Ashley 2b.......... 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 Lawrence, Sierra lf...... 3 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 Knapp, Amy 3b............ 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Sweet, Lauren c.......... 2 1 2 2 1 0 5 0 0 Driesenga, Sara p/dp..... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Doyle, Lyndsay cf........ 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Garfinkel, Becca dp...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wagner, Haylie p/dp..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 24 4 6 4 2 2 18 9 2

Nebraska 7 (37-11,14-5 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Armstrong, Alicia ss..... 4 1 0 0 0 1 4 5 1 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 Edwards, Taylor c........ 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 Breault, Courtney dp..... 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 Stokes, Kiki pr/lf...... 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Edwards, Tatum lf/p...... 3 2 2 2 1 0 2 0 3 Fowler, Mattie 1b........ 3 0 0 0 0 2 6 1 3 Muir, Kylee ph.......... 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Decker, Hailey 2b........ 3 1 2 3 0 0 4 2 0 Bettiol, Jordan cf....... 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tyson, Dawna ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lockman, Emily p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 26 7 8 7 4 5 21 9 9

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Michigan............ 021 100 0 - 4 6 0 Nebraska............ 000 205 X - 7 8 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Decker(6). DP - Huskers 3. LOB - Wolverines 2; Huskers 9. 2B - Lawrence(9); Thomason(10); Decker(9). HR - Sweet(7); Edwards, Tat(10); Decker(5). HBP - Edwards, Tay 3; Breault. SH - Knapp(2).

Michigan IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Driesenga, Sara..... 6.0 5 4 4 4 5 23 31 120 Wagner, Haylie...... 0.0 3 3 3 0 0 3 3 17

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Lockman, Emily...... 4.0 6 4 3 1 1 16 18 70 Edwards, Tatum...... 3.0 0 0 0 1 1 8 9 32

Win - Edwards, Tat (23-8). Loss - Wagner (17-2). Save - None. HBP - by Driesenga (Edwards, Tay); by Driesenga (Breault); by Driesenga (Edwards, Tay); by Driesenga (Edwards, Tay). Pitches/strikes: Driesenga 120/66; Wagner 17/12; Lockman 70/44; Edwards, Tat 32/18. Umpires - HP: Scott Mair 1B: Christie Cornwell 3B: Naomi Erdahl Start: 11:34 am Time: 2:11 Attendance: 891 Wagner faced 3 batters in the 6th. Game: NEB48