Huskers Win Wild Game, 15-10

Nebraska  15 10 michigan st.
Box Score

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Michigan St.	0	0	4	2	4	0	0		10	9	3
Nebraska	0	0	3	6	2	4	X		15	12	3

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Emily Lockman (6-7)	3.2	4	4	4	2	1
L - K. Zalewski (11-6)	5.0	9	11	8	4	2
S - None	--	--	--	--	--	--

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	HR
Cassie McClure	4	1	2	3	0	1
Steph Pasquale	1	1	1	4	0	1

Game Notes

The 25 runs between the two team marked the second-highest combined run total in school history...NU improved to 8-0 all-time vs. Michigan State...the Huskers scored a season-high 15 runs in the win...Nebraska improved to 3-4 all-time in games where both teams scored in double figures...the Huskers produced double-digit runs for the 11th time in only 25 games this season, tying for the most double-digit scoring games in a season...NU erased a 4-0 deficit, marking the largest comeback victory of the season...MSU had scored eight runs in the first seven meetings before scoring 10 runs tonight...Michigan State's run in the top of the third inning marked the first run the Spartans had scored against Nebraska in five games totaling 34.0 innings...Steph Pasquale hit a pinch-hit grand slam on the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Lincoln - In the second-highest scoring game in program history, the Nebraska softball team erased an early four-run deficit to rally for a 15-10 victory over Michigan State Friday night in the Big Ten Conference opener at Bowlin Stadium.

The Huskers scored all 15 of their runs in their final four at bats. The game was scoreless heading to the top of the third, when Michigan State plated four runs and the Huskers answered with three. The Spartans took a 6-3 lead to the bottom of the fourth, only to see Nebraska score six times to move in front 9-6. MSU scored four more runs in the top of the fifth to regain the lead, before the Huskers plated a pair in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good. Leading 11-10, NU then sealed the game when senior Steph Pasquale hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the sixth.

The 25 combined runs were the second-most in school history, trailing the 26 combined runs in Nebraska's 15-11 victory over Kansas in 1996. The Huskers produced double-digit runs for the 11th time in only 25 games this season, tying for the most double-digit scoring games in a season.

With the win, Nebraska improved to 13-12 on the season and moved to 1-0 in conference play. Junior right-hander Emily Lockman (6-7) earned the win in relief, allowing four runs in 3.2 innings. Sophomore right-hander Cassie McClure got the start and allowed six runs in 3.1 innings.

Kristina Zalewski (11-6) took the loss for Michigan State, which fell to 15-13 overall and 0-1 in league play. Zalewski allowed 11 runs (eight earned) in 5.0 innings.

Offensively, Pasquale provided the biggest hit with her pinch-hit grand slam. McClure was 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, while senior Kylee Muir, sophomore MJ Knighten and freshman Laura Barrow each produced two hits. Juniors Alicia Armstrong and Kiki Stokes drove in two runs apiece.

Michigan State took a 4-0 lead with a two-out rally in the top of the third. Alyssa McBride began the frame with a double, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a two-out RBI single from Shanin Thomas. Stephanie Sanders then walked before McKenzie Long hit a three-run home run.

Nebraska answered back in the bottom of the frame, cutting the lead to 4-3 with help from two Michigan State errors. Freshman Madi Unzicker reached on a one-out error before Barrow walked. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position before Stokes produced an RBI single through the left side. Knighten followed with another RBI single that trimmed the lead to 2-1. An error then allowed Stokes to score, as Nebraska pulled within one.

The Spartans got two runs back in the top of the fourth. A leadoff walk and back-to-back singles plated the first run, before an RBI ground out stretched the lead to 6-3.

The Huskers then exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 9-6 lead. Junior Dawna Tyson and sophomore Kat Woolman drew consecutive walks to begin the inning. Following a fielder's choice, Barrow reached on a hard-hit infield single that deflected off a drawn-in third baseman. With the bases loaded and one out, Stokes hit a line drive to left field where Alyssa McBride made a nice diving catch, but Woolman tagged up and scored to cut the lead to 6-4. Knighten followed with a single before Armstrong tied the game with a two-run single. McClure then capped the inning with a towering three-run homer over the scoreboard in left field.

Trailing for the first time, Michigan State loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth on a walk and a pair of singles. From there, two fielder's choice where Nebraska failed to get an out, an RBI single and an error gave Michigan State a 10-9 lead.

The Huskers answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead at 11-10. Woolman reached on a one-out double and scored on a game-tying, two-out RBI single from Barrow. Barrow then scored the go-ahead run on a two-out Michigan State error.

After the Spartans were retired in order in the top of the sixth - thanks in part to a fantastic diving catch from Stokes - Nebraska pulled away with a four-run sixth. McClure and Muir began the inning with singles and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Tyson. Woolman then walked to load the bases before Pasquale entered the game as a pinch hitter and blasted the first pitch she saw over the fence in right center for a grand slam. that put NU on top 15-10.

Lockman then worked around a two-out walk in the top of the seventh to preserve the victory.

Nebraska and Michigan State continue their series on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Box Score

 

2015 Nebraska Softball Michigan State at Nebraska Mar 20, 2015 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Michigan State 10 (15-13,0-1 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Freimuth, McKinzie 1b.... 5 1 1 1 0 0 9 0 1 Foerster, Lea cf......... 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Thomas, Shanin dp........ 4 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 1 Sanders, Stephanie rf.... 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Long, McKenzie 2b........ 3 2 1 3 1 0 2 1 0 Reiser, Jacquie 3b....... 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 Gutknecht, Sarah ph..... 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Luna, Destinee ss........ 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 2 1 Stoffer, Ellie c......... 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 Kujawa, Kassidy ph...... 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Heath, Sydney ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 McBride, Alyssa lf....... 2 3 2 1 2 0 2 0 0 Zalewski, Kristina p..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kaff, Valerie p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 32 10 9 9 4 4 18 9 6

Nebraska 15 (13-12,1-0 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Stokes, Kiki cf.......... 3 1 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 Knighten, MJ 3b.......... 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 Armstrong, Alicia ss..... 4 1 1 2 0 0 0 2 2 McClure, Cassie p........ 4 1 2 3 0 0 0 2 0 Sjulin, Lotte pr........ 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Muir, Kylee rf........... 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 Tyson, Dawna 1b.......... 2 0 0 0 1 0 12 0 0 Metzler, Gina pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jablonski, Kaylan dp..... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Woolman, Kat lf......... 1 3 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 Unzicker, Madi c......... 3 2 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 Pasquale, Steph ph...... 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 Barrow, Laura 2b......... 3 3 2 1 1 0 2 6 0 Otte, Taylor lf.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lockman, Emily p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 30 15 12 13 5 2 21 15 4

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Michigan State...... 004 240 0 - 10 9 3 Nebraska............ 003 624 X - 15 12 3 -----------------------------------------

E - Long, M.(10); Reiser, J.(7); Luna, D.(8); Armstrong(6); McClure(4); Unzicker(1). DP - Spartans 1; Huskers 1. LOB - Spartans 6; Huskers 4. 2B - McBride, A.(4); Woolman(3). HR - Long, M.(2); McClure(3); Pasquale(2). HBP - Foerster, L.. SH - Tyson(1). SF - Stokes(2). SB - Foerster, L.(7); Reiser, J.(10).

Michigan State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Zalewski, Kristina.. 5.0 9 11 8 4 2 25 30 103 Kaff, Valerie....... 1.0 3 4 4 1 0 5 7 20

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- McClure, Cassie..... 3.1 5 6 6 2 3 16 19 69 Lockman, Emily...... 3.2 4 4 4 2 1 16 18 63

Win - Lockman (6-7). Loss - Zalewski, K. (11-6). Save - None. WP - Zalewski, K.(4). HBP - by McClure (Foerster, L.). Pitches/strikes: Zalewski, K. 103/64; Kaff, V. 20/11; McClure 69/43; Lockman 63/36. Umpires - HP: James Colzie 1B: Larry Nagel 3B: Matt Johnson Start: 5:33 pm Time: 2:31 Attendance: 674 Game: livegame