Barrett's Blast Helps Huskers Pull Upset

Columbia, Mo. - Junior Whitney Barrett hit her first career home run and sophomore Kelli Linke added her first homer of the season, as the Nebraska softball team used timely hitting and another solid pitching performance from senior right-hander Molly Hill to top 14th-ranked Missouri 6-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Barrett's blast was a three-run shot with two outs in the sixth inning that turned a 3-1 lead into a comfortable five-run lead. Hill took it from there, tossing a complete-game six-hitter. Hill did not allow an earned run while improving to 24-11 on the season, while she added six strikeouts, her highest total of the conference season. Hill also worked around a Big 12-high three errors committed by the Husker defense.

With Hill in control in the circle, Nebraska came up with timely hits at the plate. The Huskers only out-hit the Tigers 8-6, but three of NU's eight hits came with runners on base, including Barrett's three-run blast. Missouri meanwhile was just 1-for-15 on the game with runners on base, including an 0-for-9 total with runners in scoring position and an 0-for-3 tally with the bases loaded.

Barrett paced the Husker offense with a career-high three RBIs, while Linke, senior Crystal Carwile and sophomore Julie Brechtel each finished with two hits. Linke, who put Nebraska on the board with a second-inning home run teamed up with Brechtel to account for Nebraska's other two RBIs.

The win improved Nebraska's postseason chances, as the Huskers moved to 34-15 on the season and 9-8 in the Big 12 Conference. NU is now locked into the No. 5 seed at next week's Big 12 Championship, while the Huskers are also guaranteed at least a .500 finish in league play. The win was also Nebraska's third straight victory over a ranked opponent.

Stacy Delaney, who entered the game as the Big 12 leader in overall ERA and ERA in conference-only games, took the loss for Missouri. Delaney (13-3) tossed six innings allowing six runs on seven hits. With the loss, Missouri fell to 41-9 on the season and dropped to 11-6 in conference action.

Head Coach Rhonda Revelle was pleased with how her team came out against the Tigers, who ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense and ERA.

"I think our players came out with a lot of purpose and they had great presence in the box against a good pitcher," Revelle said. "I thought Molly threw a very, very strategic game against a very good hitting team."

The Huskers scored the game's first run when Linke belted a 1-0 pitch over the bleachers in left center for a one-out solo home run, her first of the season.

Missouri threatened in the bottom of the frame when Micaela Minner blooped a pitch just over freshman Jamie Gay's head at third and out of the reach of Barrett from short. Gina Schneider then struck out swinging and on strike three, senior catcher Amanda Duran threw out Minner attempting to steal for an inning-ending double play.

Nebraska opened the door for the Tigers in the bottom of the third but Hill worked out of the jam. With a runner on first and one out, the Huskers committed errors on back-to-back ground balls to load the bases with two outs for the heart of the Missouri order. Marla Schweisberger, the TIgers' No. 3 hitter, then popped the first pitch up behind the circle and Brechtel made the catch for the second out. On the play, MU's Andee Allen got too far off third base and Brechtel fired to Gay at third for a second straight inning-ending double play.

After escaping the jam, the Huskers loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fourth on a leadoff walk to Duran and a pair of infield singles from Carwile and Linke. Brechtel then lifted a fly ball to shallow right field. Freshman pinch-runner Nikki Haget tagged up and attempted to score from third on the play. In a collision at home plate, Haget was safe and as both she and Missouri catcher Megan Christopher lay on the ground following the contact, Carwile alertly scored all the way from second to give Nebraska a 3-0 lead.

Missouri got on the board one inning later thanks to a third Husker error. With two outs, Allen successfully stole third and Duran's throw down deflected into left field, allowing Allen to score and cut NU's lead to 3-1.

The Huskers answered right back in the top of the sixth. Brechtel reached on a one-out single before senior Haley Long worked a two-out walk. Barrett the lined an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left for a three-run homer, the first of her career.

Nebraska got its first two batters aboard in the top of the seventh against new pitcher Jana Hainey, before Hainey bounced back to retire the next three batters.

In the bottom of the frame, two walks, a single and a ground out loaded the bases with one out for the top of the Tiger order. Taylor then reached on a fielder's choice where Hill threw home to record the second out. Hill then wrapped up her league-leading 24th win of the season by getting pinch hitter Kristin Nottleman to fly out to shallow center.

After Saturday's win, Nebraska will go for the series sweep on Sunday at Noon.

Box Score 2009 Nebraska Softball Nebraska at #14 Missouri May 02, 2009 at Columbia, Mo. (University Field)

Nebraska 6 (34-15,9-8 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Duran, Amanda c.......... 3 0 0 0 1 1 6 1 2 Haget, Nikki pr......... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 4 1 2 0 0 0 8 0 1 Hupp, Alex pr........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Linke, Kelli dp.......... 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 1 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 Gay, Jamie 3b............ 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Foland, Heidi ph/3b..... 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Long, Haley rf........... 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 Pascale, Brittany ph.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 3 1 1 3 0 1 2 2 2 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Totals................... 27 6 8 5 4 5 21 10 8

Missouri 1 (41-9,11-6 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rhea Taylor cf........... 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Shana White lf........... 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 Kristin Nottelman ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Marla Schweisberger 1b... 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 2 Lindsey Ubrun dp......... 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 Micaela Minner rf........ 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 Gina Schneider 3b........ 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 Megan Christopher c...... 3 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 1 Michaele Vock pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Abby Vock ss............. 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 3 0 Katie Milles ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Andee Allen 2b........... 2 1 2 0 1 0 3 0 0 Stacy Delaney p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Jana Hainey p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 27 1 6 0 2 6 21 6 7

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 010 203 0 - 6 8 3 Missouri............ 000 010 0 - 1 6 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Duran(7); Brechtel(4); Hill(5); Allen. DP - Huskers 2; Tigers 1. LOB - Huskers 8; Tigers 7. HR - Linke(1); Barrett(1). HBP - Rutherford; Pascale. SH - Rutherford(8). SF - Brechtel(3). SB - Taylor; Allen. CS - Schneider.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 7.0 6 1 0 2 6 27 29 120

Missouri IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Stacy Delaney....... 6.0 7 6 6 3 4 23 30 98 Jana Hainey......... 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 4 5 20

Win - Hill (24-11). Loss - Delaney (13-3). Save - None. HBP - by Delaney (Pascale); by Delaney (Rutherford). Pitches/strikes: Hill 120/75; Delaney 98/59; Hainey 20/13. Umpires - HP: Scott Thomas 1B: Bill Masters 3B: Diane Beasley Start: 2:02 pm Time: 2:11 Attendance: 719 Game: NU49