Feb. 15, 2008
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- The University of Nebraska got a fifth-inning two-run pinch hit single from Amanda Duran in the top of the fifth inning, and reliever Alex Hupp made it stand up with three innings of one-hit relief as the Conrhuskers defeated the Idaho State Bengals in ISU's first game of the Kajikawa Classic, hosted by Arizona State. ISU's second game of the day, against UMKC, was suspended in the first inning by rain, and that will be continued on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm at the point of suspension.
While the Bengals dropped to 0-5, the team's maturation in their second season after a 24-year layoff continues to be evident, as the team again had the tying run at least in the on deck circle in their last at bat for the fifth straight game.
Nebraska went ahead in the top of the fifth right after ISU had battled back to tie it at 3-3. After a leadoff out, Nebraska's (1-1) Julie Brechtel walked and Kelli Linke singled off of starter Andrea Coburn, who was relieved at that point by Kandis Clesson. Clesson immediately coaxed an infield fly before walking Heidi Foland on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases.
That brought up Amanda Duran, a junior college transfer in just her second game with the Cornhuskers. Hupp responded with a two-run ground ball single up the middle, and with a constant misting and drizzle during the game, the ball slowed up enough for two runs to score.
From there, Nebraska brought in Hupp in place of starter freshman Tori Tyson, and Hupp was nearly lights out, allowing just a one-out single in the fifth to Megan Miller and a two-out walk in the sixth to Wailana Buchanan. Hupp struck out five after Tyson managed but one in four innings.
Idaho State, down 3-0 after an inning and a half, flexed some muscle in getting the game back square. In the second, Ivy Sessions led off with a double and eventually came around to score on a Buchanan single to make it 3-1. Then in the fourth, Heather Dixon led off with a monsterous home run, her third, to make it 3-2.
ISU wasn't done in the fourth though, as Merissa Jannsen singled right with one out. Amanda Stachowsky pinch ran and went to second on a sacrifice and then to third on a wild pitch. She scored on a one-out double by Brittany Olsen, but ISU couldn't get her across for their first lead of the season, as pinch hitter Christine Shollenberger struck out.
Andrea Coburn, who went 4 1/3 innings for ISU, allowed three quick runs but settled down nicely, keeping ISU in the game until the fifth. She and Clesson both received the benefit of several outstanding defensive plays, which are all the more astounding realizing that ISU has yet to have a practice outdoors this season. First, in the fourth inning with one out and a runner on second, Darcy Rutherford singled up the middle. Shortstop Krista Armstrong dove to keep the ball in the infield, and with the runner on second Abby Hughes racing for home, Armstrong flipped the ball to the second baseman Jannsen, who turned and fired to catcher Whitney Chaffe just in time for the out.
Then, trying to keep the game at 5-3, Olsin made a sensational diving catch on the right field foul line to retire the Huskers' leadoff batter.
The Bengals were outhit 12-6, and no Bengal had more than the one hit, although ISU had three extra base hits. Coburn suffered the loss, dropping to 0-2, allowing five runs (all earned), nine hits, and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. Clesson allowed three hits in 2 2/3.
The Bengals will take on Temple University tomorrow at 12:30 pm, and fans can follow the action on Gametracker. ISU also faces #6/7 Northwestern, a two-time College World Series semifinalist, at 3:00 pm.
NOTES: The home run was Dixon's 15th career shot ... the Bengals did not commit an error for the first time this season ... ISU has now allowed 25 runs in their first five games this year, a major fix from last year, when they allowed 56 runs in the first five games ... Clesson's ERA dropped to 3.71 ... 12 of ISU's 30 hits this season have gone for extra bases.
