Texas Tech Athletics
Nebraska
Texas Tech Softball Drops Heartbreaker to Nebraska
April 22, 2006 | Softball
April 22, 2006
LUBBOCK, Texas - After rallying from a late 2-1 deficit to take a 3-2 lead into the seventh and final inning, the Texas Tech softball team could not close the door on the No. 17 Cornhuskers, dropping a 4-2 decision to Nebraska on Saturday at Rocky Johnson Field.
The setback drops Texas Tech's overall record this season to 18-30 and its conference mark to 4-10, while the Cornhuskers improve to 34-8 this year and 8-4 in league play.
Nebraska broke the ice in the scoring department in the second inning when shortstop Devin Porter reached on a fielding error and was able to come around the bases with the first run of the game on a single by third baseman Carmen Kier.
In the top of the fourth, the Cornhuskers pushed their lead to 2-0 on a sacrifice fly off the bat of catcher Jamie Waldecker.
The Red Raiders got on the scoreboard in the home half of the fifth, cutting the Nebraska lead to 2-1. Junior designated player Brandy Moulin and sophomore second basemen Jennifer Bowers led the frame off with back-to-back singles up the middle to give Tech a pair of baserunners. Later in the frame, pinch runners Emily Niederhofer and Amanda Oakes executed a double steal with Oakes swiping home for the first Tech run of the game.
Texas Tech was active on the base paths in the bottom of the sixth as the first four batters of the inning reached base, with only hit of the frame coming on a bunt single by left fielder Devin Zaragoza. After being hit with a pitch to start the inning, junior centerfielder Ashley Parker scored on a Whitney Riley fielder's choice and for the second straight inning, the Red Raiders were able to push a run across on a double steal, as Zaragoza stole home for her second stolen base of the frame.
With Tech now leading 3-2, senior pitcher Erin Crawford took the mound for her seventh inning of work, but the Leander, Texas, native struggled in the stanza as Waldecker and NU first baseman Crystal Carwile connected on back-to-back solo home runs to propel the `Huskers back into the lead at 4-3.
The Red Raiders will attempt to even the series with the Cornhuskers on Sunday with noon contest at Rocky Johnson Field.
