Huskers Open With Victory; Lawrick Honored

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln? The Nebraska softball team scored six runs in the first two innings en route to a 7-0 victory over ColoradoState at the Husker Fall Classic Saturday afternoon. In an on-field ceremony before the game, junior first baseman Sheena Lawrick was presented with the Richard Raimondi Memorial Scholarship.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The Raimondi Scholarship, the first fully endowed scholarhip for a female athlete at Nebraska, is awarded annually to a member of the Husker softball team. Lawrick, a family and consumer sciences major, hit .337 last season and is actively involved with the YWCA and American Education Week.

 

Head Coach Rhonda Revelle, Senior Associate Athletic Director Bob Burton and members of the Raimondi family joined Lawrick in the pregame ceremony. The scholarship was created to honor Richard Raimondi, the father of former NU softball player Melanie Raimondi.

 

In the game, Nebraska jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning against ColoradoState. Senior Anne Steffan was hit by a pitch and stole second. Junior Jessica Yoachim then reached on an error and Steffan came home on the play and Yoachim advanced to second. Yoachim then came home on an error. She took third on a wild pitch and scored when the Rams’ catcher Kerry Farrell threw wildly to third.

 

The Huskers added to their lead in the second inning by scoring four times. Freshman Cassie Kleinsmith led off with a single and junior Lizzy Rock followed with another single. Steffan then singled to score Kleinsmith and Yoachim doubled to score Rock and Steffan. Leading 5-0, Yoachim came home on a throwing error by CSU’s Brittany Huerta on sophomore Jamie Waldecker’s ground ball to short.

 

The Rams threatened in the top of third after the first two runners reached. With runners on first and second and no outs, freshman right-hander Jordan Keen coaxed a ground ball that junior Carmen Kier fielded at third, stepped on the bag, and fired to junior first baseman for the double play. Brittany Burtner flied out to left to end the threat.

 

Nebraska added another run in the fifth to extend the lead to 7-0. Senior Sheena Lawrick led off with a double and junior Trisha Tannahill followed with a single. Lawrick came around to score on a two-out, bases loaded single by Rock.

 

Yoachim, Lawrick and Rock each had multi-hit games for Nebraska.

 

Keen picked up the victory for NU, surrendering just three hits and one walk in four innings of work. JayCee Wood took the loss for ColoradoState. The Huskers are now 10-1 this fall with three games remaining on the fall schedule.

 

Nebraska returns to action immediately when it faces the Kansas Jayhawks at 3 p.m. at Bowlin Stadium.