Huskers Fall to No. 13 Oklahoma

NEBRASKA  2 4 oklahoma
Box Score

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Nebraska	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		2	2	0
Oklahoma	0	2	0	0	0	0	X		4	7	0

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Parker (9-3)	7.0	2	0	0	3	6
L - McClure (9-4)	6.0	7	4	4	2	3
S - None	0.0	0	0	0	0	0

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	2B	HR
Mattie Fowler	3	0	2	0	0	0
Cassie McClure	2	0	0	1	0	0

Game Notes
Nebraska used a different starting lineup (P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF, RF, DP) and a different batting order for the 26th time in 26 games...the Huskers fell to 2-5 vs. ranked opponents this season...NU scored twice in the first inning despite not recording a hit.

Fullerton, Calif. - The 23rd-ranked Nebraska softball team struck first on Sunday against 13th-ranked Oklahoma, but the Sooners rallied for a 4-2 victory over the Huskers.

Nebraska jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning without recording a hit. Senior Kiki Stokes worked a leadoff walk before junior MJ Knighten was hit by a pitch. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch before Oklahoma made a quick call to the bullpen to bring on ace All-American Paige Parker. Senior Alicia Armstrong plated Stokes on a sacrifice fly. On the play, Knighten moved up to third, and she scored on a successful squeeze bunt from junior Cassie McClure.

Oklahoma tied the game in the bottom of the second. Shay Knighten led off with a double and the Sooners had runners at first and second with two outs when Nicole Pendley hit a ground ball to short. Armstrong was in position to make the play, but Caleigh Clifton blocked Armstrong's vision as Clifton headed to third base and by the time Armstrong regained sight of the ball, it was past her and into left center field for a two-run single.

The Sooners loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the third but Clifton was retired on a nice sliding catch in center by Stokes.

In the bottom of the fifth, a leadoff single and a fielder's choice where Nebraska failed to get an out gave the Sooners runners on first and second with no outs. But the Huskers got out of the jam with a pair of ground outs and a strikeout.

One inning later, a leadoff double and a single gave Oklahoma runners on first and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly put the Sooners on top 3-2, before a two-out, RBI single stretched the lead to 4-2.

Nebraska was then retired in order in the top of the seventh.

Parker (9-3) earned the win for Oklahoma, which improved to 21-6 on the season. McClure (9-4) pitched well in a losing effort, allowing four runs in a complete-game effort. Offensively, senior Mattie Fowler had both of Nebraska's two hits.

Nebraska (17-9) plays a second game Sunday against DePaul.

 

Box Score

 

2016 Nebraska Softball #23 Nebraska vs #13 Oklahoma Mar 20, 2016 at Fullerton, Calif. (Anderson Field)

Nebraska 2 (17-9)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Stokes, Kiki cf.......... 3 1 0 0 1 2 2 1 0 Knighten, MJ 3b.......... 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 Armstrong, Alicia ss..... 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 0 McClure, Cassie p........ 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 Unzicker, Madi dp........ 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 Jablonski, Kaylan dp.... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fowler, Mattie 1b........ 3 0 2 0 0 0 8 1 0 Sjulin, Lotte pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Simmons, Alyvia rf....... 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Urness, Austen rf....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Otte, Taylor lf.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Barrow, Laura 2b......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 2 Cassidy, Bri c........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Totals................... 21 2 2 2 4 6 18 9 5

Oklahoma 4 (21-6)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Miller, Erin lf.......... 4 0 2 1 0 2 2 0 0 Romero, Sydney 3b........ 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 Wodach, Lea c............ 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 Knighten, Shay rf........ 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Self, Kady 1b............ 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 2 Clifton, Caleigh 2b...... 2 2 1 0 0 0 5 0 3 Parker, Paige dp......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Aviu, Fale ph........... 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pendley, Nicole cf....... 2 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 Arnold, Kelsey ss........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 Hatfield, Macey ph...... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Stevens, Kelsey p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Montgomery, Whitney c... 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 Totals................... 24 4 7 4 2 3 21 7 6

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 200 000 0 - 2 2 0 Oklahoma............ 020 002 X - 4 7 0 -----------------------------------------

LOB - Huskers 5; Sooners 6. 2B - Knighten, S.(5); Clifton, C.(6). HBP - Knighten; Clifton, C.. SH - McClure(1). SF - Armstrong(1); Pendley, N.(1). SB - Otte(4); Aviu, Fale(2).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- McClure, Cassie..... 6.0 7 4 4 2 3 24 28 98

Oklahoma IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Stevens, Kelsey..... 0.0 0 2 2 1 0 0 2 8 Parker, Paige....... 7.0 2 0 0 3 6 21 26 87

Win - Parker, P. (8-3). Loss - McClure (9-4). Save - None. WP - Stevens, K.(13). HBP - by Stevens, K. (Knighten); by McClure (Clifton, C.). Pitches/strikes: McClure 98/61; Stevens, K. 8/2; Parker, P. 87/55. Umpires - HP: Ron Burkhart 1B: John Baca 3B: Hal Van Ryswyk Start: 12:02 pm Time: 1:51 Attendance: Game: livegame