Big Inning Powers NU Past Colorado State

Las Cruces, N.M. - A seven-run fifth inning and a terrific debut from Cassie McClure powered the 18th-ranked Nebraska softball team to a season-opening 9-1 run-rule victory over Colorado State on Friday afternoon in Las Cruces, N.M.

The Huskers scored twice in the bottom of the second inning but led just 2-1 entering the bottom of the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, the Huskers sent nine batters to the plate and scored seven runs before the game was halted with only one out due to the eight-run rule.

McClure (1-0), a sophomore transfer from Texas Tech making her first career start, earned a complete-game victory for her first career decision. Having never thrown more than 2.2 innings, McClure tossed 5.0 innings of two-hit ball against Colorado State, allowing only one run. She added three strikeouts and one of the two singles she allowed was an infield single.

McClure also got Nebraska going offensively, leading off the bottom of the second with a long home run well beyond the wall in left center. Senior Kylee Muir was then hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. Classmate Steph Pasquale moved Muir to third with a hard-hit ground out to second, and Pasquale scored on a two-out, RBI single from junior Mattie Fowler.

Colorado State cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the fourth. The first two batters were quickly retired before McClure walked her first batter of the game. An infield single - the Rams' first hit - then put runners at second and third before a Molly Randle grounder found a hole up the middle for an RBI single.

The Rams threatened again in the fifth. A one-out walk was followed by a ground ball back to the circle, and McClure elected to go to second but her throw was not in time. With runners at first and second with one out, McClure escaped the jam with a fielder's choice and a foul out to Fowler at first.

In the bottom of the inning, NU exploded for seven runs to wrap up the run-rule victory. Freshman Kaylan Jablonski led off with a single. Fowler advanced freshman pinch runner Gina Metzler to second with a sacrifice bunt and on the play, Fowler reached safely on an error. Junior Kiki Stokes then reached on a one-out infield single to load the bases before sophomore MJ Knighten lined a two-run double down the right field line that scored Metzler and sophomore pinch runner Kat Woolman.

Leading 5-1, the Huskers weren't finished. McClure was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out before Muir delivered a two-run single past the first baseman to stretch Nebraska's lead to 7-1. Pasquale then lined an RBI double to the gap in right center, scoring sophomore pinch runner Lotte Sjulin. On the play, an error also allowed Muir to score the game-ending run.

Eight of Nebraska's nine starters had a hit, while six Husker drove in a run. McClure finished 1-for-2 with a home run and an intentional walk, while junior Alicia Armstrong was 1-for-1 with an RBI, and she was hit by a pair of pitches. Knighten and Muir each added two RBIs for the Big Red.

Nebraska improved to 1-0 with the win, while Colorado State fell to 0-1. Holly Reinke (0-1) took the loss for the Rams, allowing nine runs (seven earned) in 4.1 innings.

The Huskers wrap up day one of the 2015 season against New Mexico State, the host of the Hotel Encanto Invitational.

Box Score

 

2015 Nebraska Softball Colorado State vs #18 Nebraska Feb 06, 2015 at Las Cruces, N.M. (NMSU Softball Cmplx)

Colorado State 1 (0-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ HUTTON, Haley ss......... 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 DAVID, Haley lf.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 HUTTON, Taylor rf........ 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 RODRIGUEZ, Shae cf....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 WIKRE, Danielle 1b....... 1 1 0 0 1 0 5 0 0 MANZANARES, Jaelyn c..... 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 RANDLE, Molly dp......... 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 CLARK, Savannah 3b....... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 REINKE, Holly p.......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 ARCARESE, Taryn 2b....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 Totals................... 19 1 2 1 2 3 13 8 6

Nebraska 9 (1-0)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Stokes, Kiki cf.......... 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Armstrong, Alicia ss..... 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 5 0 Knighten, MJ 3b.......... 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 McClure, Cassie p........ 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 Sjulin, Lotte pr........ 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Muir, Kylee rf........... 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 Pasquale, Steph c........ 3 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 Jablonski, Kaylan dp..... 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fowler, Mattie 1b........ 1 0 1 1 0 0 8 0 0 Woolman, Kat pr......... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barrow, Laura 2b......... 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Metzler, Gina lf......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Totals................... 19 9 8 8 1 1 15 5 2

Score by Innings R H E -------------------------------------- Colorado State...... 000 10 - 1 2 2 Nebraska............ 020 07 - 9 8 1 --------------------------------------

Note: 1 out, 1 runner LOB when the game ended.

E - MANZANARES,(1); ARCARESE, Ta(1); Armstrong(1). DP - Rams 2. LOB - Rams 6; Huskers 2. 2B - Pasquale(1). HR - McClure(1). HBP - HUTTON, Hale; Armstrong 2; Muir. SH - Fowler(1).

Colorado State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ----------------------------------------------- REINKE, Holly....... 4.1 7 9 7 1 1 18 23 RANDLE, Molly....... 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ----------------------------------------------- McClure, Cassie..... 5.0 2 1 1 2 3 19 22

Win - McClure (1-0). Loss - REINKE, Holl (0-1). Save - None. WP - REINKE, Holl(1). HBP - by McClure (HUTTON, Hale); by REINKE, Holl (Muir); by REINKE, Holl (Armstrong); by REINKE, Holl (Armstrong). Umpires - HP: Michael Parker 1B: Cody Little 3B: Steve McCown Start: 4:06 pm Time: 1:39 Attendance: Game: livegame