Timely Hitting Sparks NU Past Syracuse

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Columbus, <?xml:namespace prefix="u1"?>Ga. ? Junior Crystal Carwile hit her second home run of the weekend and fellow junior Amanda Duran delivered a clutch two-run, pinch-hit double, as the Nebraska softball team defeated Syracuse, 8-3, on Saturday night at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Nebraska built an early 3-0 lead on the strength of Carwile's two-run shot and led 5-1 before a two-run inning for Syracuse cut the lead to 5-3 going into the bottom of the fifth. That set the stage for Duran's two-out, two-run double that essentially sealed the game.

 

The win improved Nebraska to 4-7 on the season and ensured the Huskers would finish this weekend's five-game schedule with a winning record. Head Coach Rhonda Revelle was pleased with the effort of her team after the Huskers struggled in Saturday's earlier loss to No. 23 North Carolina.

 

"It was a tale of two teams," Revelle said, contrasting Nebraska's play against Syracuse and North Carolina. "I thought (starting pitcher) Alex (Hupp) had a really gutty performance and we came up with some timely hits."

 

Those timely hits made a winner out of Hupp (2-3), who won her second straight decision. Hupp threw a complete game, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out six.

 

Chanel Roehner (0-5) took the loss for Syracuse, which remained winless on the season, falling to 0-12. Roehner was tagged for five runs (three earned) on six hits in 3.2 innings.

 

For the third straight game Nebraska was the first team to score, plating three runs in the bottom of the first as the first four batters reached base safely. After junior Darcy Rutherford led off with a single but was called out at first for leaving early several pitches later, freshman Ashley Guile provided the first blow with an RBI double that scored junior Meghan Mullin. Carwile then belted the first pitch she saw over the fence in right for a two-run homer.

 

Syracuse got a run back in the bottom of the second when Amy Kelley drilled a 3-1 offering from Hupp just over the wall in left for a towering solo home run.

 

Nebraska’s speed and a costly Syracuse error led to two more Husker runs in the bottom of the third. Rutherford and Mullin reached with no outs and stood at second and third with two outs. Freshman Kelli Linke then hit a grounder to first that was misplayed and although the ball did not leave the infield, both Rutherford and Mullin scored to give NU a 5-1 lead.

 

Syracuse scored two runs in the top of the fifth to pull to within 5-3. A double and a bloop single put runners at the corners with only one out before a ground out left runners at second and third with two outs. Jamie Kelling then walked to load the bases for Hallie Gibbs, the Orange’s No. 3 hitter, who promptly ripped a two-run double.

 

Rachel Tilford then hit a liner down the left field line, but Rutherford made a diving catch on the left field foul line to end the inning and possibly save two runs.

 

Nebraska answered right back by scoring three runs with some clutch hitting in the bottom of the inning. With runners on first and second, Duran came in and stroked her two-out, two-run double. Freshman Heidi Foland then recorded the first RBI of her career with a run-scoring single up the middle to put the Huskers in front 8-5.

 

Hupp then retired Syracuse in order in the seventh to seal the Huskers' third victory in four games. 

 

Nebraska wraps up play at the 13th annual NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. when the Huskers face No. 4 Tennessee.

Box Score Nebraska Softball Syracuse vs Nebraska Mar 01, 2008 at Columbus, Ga. (South Commons Cmplx)

Syracuse 3 (0-12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ ROEHNER, Chanel p........ 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 KELLING, Jamie ss........ 2 0 0 0 1 0 4 2 0 GIBBS, Hallie dp......... 4 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 HELMAN, Rachel pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TILFORD, Rachel cf....... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 ROSEN, Jorden rf......... 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 KELLEY, Amy c............ 3 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 WASEK, Lindsay 2b........ 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 IRVINE, Tawni 3b......... 3 1 1 0 0 1 5 0 0 ANDERSON, Ev lf.......... 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 MILLER, Nicole 1b........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 SAGNELLI, Angie p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 28 3 7 3 1 6 18 11 6

Nebraska 8 (4-7)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 4 1 2 0 0 0 3 0 1 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 Guile, Ashley c.......... 3 1 1 1 1 0 5 0 2 Liegl, Sammi pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 4 1 1 2 0 0 6 0 0 Linke, Kelli dp.......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 Long, Haley rf........... 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 Hupp, Alex p............. 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 Duran, Amanda ph........ 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 Foland, Heidi ss......... 3 0 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 Barrett, Whitney 3b...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 Totals................... 28 8 10 6 2 1 21 8 5

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Syracuse............ 010 020 0 - 3 7 2 Nebraska............ 302 030 X - 8 10 0 -----------------------------------------

E - KELLING(5); MILLER, N.(3). DP - Orange 1. LOB - Orange 6; Huskers 5. 2B - GIBBS(1); ROSEN(2); IRVINE(1); Guile(3); Duran(3). HR - KELLEY(1); Carwile(3). HBP - Brechtel. SH - KELLING(1). SB - Foland(2).

Syracuse IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- ROEHNER, Chanel..... 3.2 6 5 3 1 1 18 20 67 SAGNELLI, Angie..... 2.1 4 3 3 1 0 10 11 31

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hupp, Alex.......... 7.0 7 3 3 1 6 28 30 130

Win - Hupp (2-3). Loss - ROEHNER (0-5). Save - None. WP - SAGNELLI(6). HBP - by ROEHNER (Brechtel). PB - Guile(2). Pitches/strikes: ROEHNER 67/41; SAGNELLI 31/19; Hupp 130/80. Umpires - HP: Bobby Shelton 1B: John Stoodley 3B: John Kurnat Start: 6:32 pm Time: 2:16 Attendance: Game: livegame