AUSTIN, Texas Texas scored four runs in the decisive third inning to break a 1-1 tie to defeat Nebraska 5-1 Friday night at McCombs Field in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.
The loss dropped Nebraska to 13-11 on the season and 0-1 in Big 12 play. The Huskers dropped their conference opener for the fourth straight season, as NU has opened its league slate on the road against the eventual Big 12 champion in each of the last three seasons.
Junior right-hander Molly Hill (6-4), the reigning Big 12 ERA champion, suffered the worst league loss of her career, allowing five runs on 10 hits in six innings. After the four-run third inning, Hill settled down and allowed just one hit and no runs over her final three innings.
Texas freshman right-hander Brittany Barnhill (3-5) earned the victory in her first career Big 12 start. Barnhill tossed a complete-game two-hitter, allowing just one earned run as she worked around two walks and two hit batters for the Longhorns (15-11-2, 1-0). Reigning Big 12 pitcher of the Week Meagan Denny picked up the save, throwing a perfect final two innings, including working out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth.
Denny's ability to work out of the bases-loaded jam highlighted a frustrating offensive night for Nebraska, as the Huskers stranded 10 runners in the game. Nebraska was unable to convert its first scoring chance in the top of the first inning when junior Darcy Rutherford led off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. She was at third with only one out before a strike out and ground out ended the threat.
Texas took the lead with a two-out run in the bottom of the second. Desiree Williams ripped a one-out double and after a strikeout, a pair of infield singles resulted in a run as Crystal Saenz's high chopper bounced just over Hill's head for an RBI single.
The Huskers responded by loading the bases with only one out in the top of the third before junior Amanda Duran was hit by a pitch to score freshman Heidi Foland. After not producing a hit before scoring, NU then ran into some tough hitting luck as junior Crystal Carwile lined a pitch up the middle that hit Barnhill and allowed her to recover and throw home for the second out. Freshman Ashley Guile then lined out to Barnhill, who made a stabbing grab to her left to end the inning.
The Longhorns answered right back with four runs in the bottom of the inning to secure the victory. UT used three consecutive hits, including a two-strike, two-run double from Kelly Melone, to take a 3-1 lead. Williams and Brittany Chalk then each recorded RBI singles to put UT in front 5-1.
NU loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth, bringing the tying run to the plate before a strikeout a pop out and a ground out left the Huskers still down by four. Nebraska then stranded one runner in the seventh. Overall, Nebraska was 0-for-17 with runners on base and 0-for-5 with the bases loaded, leaving the bases full twice.
Nebraska and Texas wrap up their opening Big 12 series at noon on Saturday. Free audio of the game can be found on Huskers.com, while free video is scheduled to be offered, courtesy of TexasSports.com.
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