NU Beats DePaul, Falls to UCLA

Las Vegas -- The Nebraska softball team opened its 2004 season with a 1-1 record Friday on the first day of the UNLV Classic at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park. The Huskers bounced back from a 10-1, five-inning loss to No. 1 UCLA in their first game to defeat No. 12 DePaul, 10-2, in six innings their second contest of the day.

"I was really proud of the way we bounced back today," NU Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "DePaul’s a perennial top-10 team, and I was happy that we could come back from a loss and play well in the second game against a good team like that."

Against DePaul, senior pitcher Peaches James (1-0) held the Blue Demons scoreless on one hit through the first five innings before allowing two runs in the top of the sixth. James recorded nine strikeouts and allowed only four hits.

Offensively, three Huskers had multiple-hit games, led by junior second baseman Anne Steffan’s 3-for-4 performance, including two runs scored and one RBI. Trisha Tannahill went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and freshman catcher Jamie Waldecker was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored in her debut. Senior outfielder Nicole Trimboli belted the team’s first home run of the year in the fifth

In the first game of the day, the Huskers were hurt by a hot-hitting UCLA team. The Bruins finished with 10 hits, including six home runs. Sophomore right-hander Summer Tobias (0-1) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on three hits in 3.0 innings.

NU continues tournament action Saturday with two games. The Huskers will face Michigan at 1 p.m. and Notre Dame at 6 p.m.

#8 Nebraska 10, #12 DePaul 2
The Huskers scored three runs in the first. NU loaded the bases when Steffan produced a bunt single, Lawrick walked and James singled to left. In her first collegiate at-bat, Waldecker reached on a fielder’s choice, as Steffan was thrown out at home, but Sheena Lawrick scored on the play. Tannahill then ripped a two-run single to left, scoring James and Waldecker for the 3-0 lead.

Nebraska left the bases loaded in the second and did not pose a serious scoring threat again until the bottom of the fifth, when Trimboli led off and smacked a solo home run to right center. Steffan followed with a single, then scored on a two-out double by Waldecker. Tacha, pinch-running for Waldecker, then scored when Tannahill ripped an RBI double to center.

DePaul finally scored in the top of the sixth. Martz led off and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice. She then attempted to steal third, and went on to score when Waldecker overthrew her at third. Christina Douglas then knocked a solo homer over the left field fence to make it 6-2, Nebraska.

The Huskers answered in the bottom of the sixth. Jocelyn Evans led off and walked. Yoachim followed with a single to left, and Trimboli was hit by a pitch. Steffan then knocked a two-run single past second. Lawrick followed with an RBI single, and James belted a sacrifice fly to left to make it 10-2, Nebraska.

#1 UCLA 10, #8 Nebraska 1
UCLA smashed six home runs to defeat the Huskers, 10-1, in their 2004 season opener. Tobias took the loss, allowing five runs on three hits in 3.0 innings. Freshman right-hander Ashley DeBuhr tossed the final 1.2 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits.

Keira Goerl (3-0) was the winning pitcher, as she did not allow an earned run and gave up three hits.

In the top of the first, NU loaded the bases with one out. Steffan hit a one-out infield single and stole second. The Huskers had runners on the corners after Lawrick reached on an error. Goerl walked James to load the bases, but Nebraska couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity, as Tannahill struck out and Liz Lawhorn lined out to left.

In the bottom half of the inning, with two outs and two runners on, Emily Zaplatosch belted a 3-2 pitch over the wall in center to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead.

In the second, Nebraska again loaded the bases with one out. Brittney Yolo walked to lead off the inning. After Yoachim struck out looking, Porter reached on a fielder’s choice and Tacha, pinch running for Yolo, reached second safely on an error by the second baseman. Trimboli singled to load the bases for Steffan, who struck out swinging. Lawrick reached on an error that led to the Huskers’ first run when Tacha scored from third. Porter was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on the play.

UCLA answered NU in the bottom of the third when Andrea Duran homered to left center to give the Bruins a 4-1 lead.

The long ball hurt the Huskers once again in the fourth when Legaspi hit the Bruins’ third home run of the game, a leadoff homer to center.

UCLA increased its lead to 7-1 in the fifth when Zaplatosch hit a two-run home run to left center off DeBuhr. Following a strikeout, Dodd connected on the Bruins’ fifth home run of the game. After Henry reached on an infield single, Benyi ended the game with a two-run shot to left to give UCLA the 10-1 win in five innings.