LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska broke a 1-1 tie with nine runs in the fifth inning to walk off with a 10-1 win over the Omaha softball team at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln on Wednesday evening.
The Mavericks dropped to 9-10 overall, while the Huskers improved to 9-11.
Omaha jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Allie Mathewson got things going with a single through the right side and then stole second. A Lia Mancuso ground out moved Mathewson to third with only one out. Tonya Peterson singled through the left side of the infield to score Mathewson to give the Mavs the lead.
The Mavericks put pressure on sophomore right-hander Cassie McClure in the second inning. Kelly Pattison singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Mathewson moved Pattison to third with a single to right. UNO's scoring threat was squelched when McClure induced a ground out to end the inning without damage.
UNO was at it again in the third inning. Tonya Peterson drew a walk before Campbell Ditto doubled to right center field. Husker centerfielder Kiki Stokes made a perfect throw to second baseman Laura Barrow, who threw Peterson out at home. Nebraska made another stellar defensive play as they tagged out Ditto at third as she over slid the base.
Nebraska used the momentum generated on defense to tie things up in the bottom of the frame. Stokes reached on a bunt single and was brought home by a MJ Knighten double to right field. Omaha pitcher Kat Barrow settled down and retired the next three batters to keep the score tied, 1-1.
Following a quiet fourth inning, Mancuso doubled to center and Peterson followed up with a walk to put two runners on with two outs in the top of the fifth. McClure ended the threat by getting a called third strike.
Nebraska exploded in the bottom of the fifth for nine runs to end the game early. The Huskers loaded the bases with no outs. After inducing an infield fly to get the first out, Barrow hit Stephanie Pasquale to force in a run and gave the Huskers the lead, 2-1. Nebraska took advantage of an error and a bases loaded walk to push the score to 7-1. The game ended when Dawna Tyson hit a pinch hit, three-run homer to make the score 10-1.
Mathewson went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored. Peterson went 1-for-1 with a pair of walks and drove in the lone Maverick run. Mancuso went 1-for-3 at the plate with a double.
Kat Barrow (3-3) pitched 4.1 innings allowing five earned runs on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
Omaha heads to Lawrence, Kan., tomorrow for the Jayhawk Invitational. The Mavericks open tournament play on Friday against Idaho State at 6:00 p.m.
