TEMPE, Ariz. - The offense came alive for the Nebraska softball team in its second game of the season, as the Huskers pounded out 12 hits in a 5-3 victory over Idaho State at a rainy Tempe Sports Complex.
The Husker offense had at least one baserunner in every inning and had two or more base runners in five of its seven frames. The 12 hits were just one shy of last season's high in 57 games. Despite some clutch hitting, Nebraska did strand 10 runners in the game.
Nebraska's newcomers came up big in the win, as freshman right-hander Tori Tyson earned the first victory of her young career, while fellow freshman Julie Brechtel and junior transfer Amanda Duran recorded two RBIs each. Overall, all six of the newcomers who earned an at bat recorded a hit, as the rookies accounted for six hits, three walks, three runs scored and four RBIs.
In addition to the newcomers, the entire lineup produced as every player with an at bat had a hit. Junior Darcy Rutherford paced the 12-hit attack with a 3-for-3 performance. With the win, Nebraska evened its record at 1-1 on the season. The win was also career victory No. 599 for Head Coach Rhonda Revelle, who was pleased with her team's performance.
"It was great to see us come right back and put 12 hits and five runs on the board," Revelle said. "It was awesome to see the production of the newcomers today."
After a frustrating season opener offensively when NU managed just one run on only one hit, Nebraska jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning, doubling its hit and run total from the entire first game. Rutherford reached on a four-pitch walk and fellow junior Crystal Carwile followed with a line-drive single to center to put runners at first and second with one out. Both runners moved up on a ground out before freshman Julie Brechtel brought both runners home with a clutch, two-run single up the middle.
The Huskers added to their lead an inning later. Grand Island freshman Heidi Foland led off with a single in her first career at bat, advanced to second on a sacrifice from fellow freshman Abby Hughes and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Rutherford.
Leading 3-0, Nebraska saw Idaho State get a run back in the bottom of the second when Ivy Sessions ripped a leadoff double, advanced to third on a sacrifice and scored on a bloop single from Wailana Buchanan.
Heather Dixon cut the lead to 3-2 when she drilled the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth inning over the wall in left for a leadoff home run. The Bengals pulled even later in the frame, when Brittany Olsin's fly ball to shallow left eluded a pair of Husker defenders.
After missing scoring opportunities in the third and fourth innings, Nebraska had runners on first and second and only one out in the top of the fifth. Following a pitching change and a strikeout, Foland walked to load the bases before junior Amanda Duran came on to pinch hit. Duran worked the count to 2-0 before ripping a two-run single up the middle to put the Huskers back on top 5-3.
Hupp then entered the circle in relief of Tyson and ended any Idaho State hopes of a second comeback, shutting the door on the Bengals. In picking up her first career save, Hupp struck out five while allowing just one hit in three innings. Her save made a winner of Tyson, who became the fourth consecutive freshman pitcher to win her first start for teh Huskers, dating back to 2004. In four innings of work, Tyson surrendered three runs on five hits.
Andrea Coburn (0-2) took the loss for Idaho State, which dropped to 0-5 on the season. In 4.1 innings, Coburn allowed five runs on nine hits.
Nebraska opens its second day of the season on Saturday night, when the Huskers play back-to-back games against fifth-ranked Arizona State and Memphis. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. and free audio and live stats will be available on Huskers.com.
California 5, Nebraska 1
Bernice Masaniai went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs to power California past the Nebraska softball team, 6-1, in the Huskers' season opener Friday at the Kajikawa Classic inside Farrington Stadium.
Nebraska started five newcomers, while all eight of the Husker newcomers saw action. The group was led by freshman Ashley Guile, who recorded Nebraska's lone hit and RBI, while also drawing a walk.
Sophomore right-hander Alex Hupp (0-1) suffered the first loss of her career, surrendering a career-high four runs on a career-hihgh 10 hits in five innings of work. Marissa Drewrey (2-2) did not allow an earned run in a complete-game one-hitter for Cal (3-4).
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