Huskers Sweep Doubleheader from Gorillas

On a day when the offense erupted for 15 runs and 21 hits in only 10.1 innings, the work of the pitching staff was still the story for the Nebraska softball team, as the Huskers opened a revised Big Red Classic on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep of Pittsburg State in front of nearly 400 fans at Bowlin Stadium.

 

Behind a nine-strikeout, no-hit performance from junior right-hander Molly Hill, the Huskers took the first game, 7-0, with all seven runs crossing the plate in the decisive sixth inning. Juniors Crystal Carwile and Haley Long, along with freshman Ashley Guile each had two RBIs in the inning.

 

Sophomore right-hander Alex Hupp was the story in game two, as she tossed a two-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts and went 1-for-1 at the plate with a double, three RBIs and two walks to lead Nebraska to an 8-0, run-rule victory that ended with the Huskers batting in the bottom of the fifth. In addition to Hupp, junior Meghan Mullin and freshman Kelli Linke enjoyed strong offensive performances, as both finished with two hits and two RBIs.

 

In the circle, Hupp and Hill combined to allow just two hits in 12.0 innings, while fanning 20. The duo did not allow a run, as Hupp picked up her fourth shutout of the fall, while Hill earned her third. As a staff, Hupp and Hill have thrown seven shutouts in leading Nebraska to a 7-1 record this fall.

 

Head Coach Rhonda Revelle was impressed with the work of the pitchers, as well as the hitters.

 

"I was really pleased with our pitchers today," Revelle said. "They've been working very hard on all of their pitches and have been doing a good job of moving pitches around.

 

"Offensively, it took us a while to adjust and get going, but once we did, we scored in five of our final six innings. We had big, clutch hits up and down the lineup and that was great to see."

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It did take awhile for the offense to get going in game one, as neither team mounted much of an offensive threat until a pair of errors gave <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>PittsburgState runners at first and second with no outs in the top of the fourth. A sacrifice moved the runners to second and third before the Huskers recorded the second out at home and Hill struck out Tiffany Swanson to end the inning.

 

After the Gorillas were unable to capitalize in their half of the frame, the Huskers hit into some tough luck in the bottom of the inning. With runners at second and third and only one out, Guile and fellow freshman Julianne Brechtel lined out to first and center, respectively.

 

NU finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth in a big way. Hupp led off with a pinch-hit single, followed by another single from junior Meghan Mullin and a walk to junior Darcy Rutherford that loaded the bases with no outs.

 

Junior Crystal Carwile then put the Huskers on the board with a two-run, line-drive double off the glove of the PittsburgState first baseman. With runners at second and third, the Gorillas recorded an out before Guile, batting with a cast protecting a broken left hand, ripped a two-run double to the gap in left center that put Nebraska up 4-0.

 

Junior Haley long then became the third Husker to record a two-RBI hit in the inning, as she laced a triple to right center on the first pitch she saw to score freshman Sammi Liegl and Brechtel and push the lead to 6-0. NU then capped the seven-run inning with Long scored on a wild pitch.

 

In game two, Nebraska struck much quicker. A pair of singles from Mullin and Rutherford, combined with a walk to Carwile, loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first. Pittsburg State recorded a force out at home before Hupp helped her own cause by clearing the bases with a three-run double.

 

Pittsburg State recorded back-to-back singles with one out in the top of the third - the Gorillas only hits of the day - before Hupp struck out the final two hitters in what proved to be Pittsburg State's best scoring chance.

 

The Huskers went up 4-0 in the bottom of the third thanks to some smart base running from Carwile. Carwile struck out swinging, but reached first safely on a wild pitch. She then advanced to second on a ground out and alertly stole third three pitches later with the Gorilla's third baseman was playing in against a bunt. Carwile then raced home when Hupp was caught in a rundown between first and second.

 

NU increased its lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Mullin recorded a two-out, two-run double down the left field line that scored Brechtel and Liegl.

 

The Huskers closed out the run-rule victory with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Nebraska opened the inning with back-to-back singles from Carwile and Guile and Hupp walked to load the bases. With one out, Linke ended the game with a two-run single to center that brought Carwile and freshman pinch runner Heidi Foland home with the seventh and eighth runs of the game.

 

Linke finished the doubleheader 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while Guile, seeing her first action of the fall due to the broken hand, finished 2-for-6 with two RBIs.

 

The Huskers' close their fall season on Sunday with a single game against Pittsburg State at 11 a.m.