UNO softball storms back, falls in extra innings to Huskers
By Brandon McDermott, KVNO News
April 16th, 2015

UNO Freshman pitcher Jaylee Hinrichs threw all eight innings in the loss to Nebraska. She allowed eight hits, eight runs, walking four and hitting two other batters. (Photo Courtesy UNO Athletics)
Omaha, NE – The Omaha softball team had a long week off following last week’s non-conference victories against UMKC and North Dakota. This gave the Mavericks nearly a week to prepare for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
[audio:https://kvnonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/0416-FINAL.mp3]UNO started off slow offensively and fell behind 1-0 after Husker junior outfielder Kiki Stokes singled in Mattie Fowler, putting Nebraska ahead. Husker Kaylan Jablonski struck out the side in the bottom of the 2nd.
The Huskers would score four runs in the fourth inning off three hits, two errors and a walk. The Mavs followed that up with grounding out and striking out twice in the bottom of the 4th. UNO head coach Jeanne Scarpello said her team got behind early and didn’t respond offensively until it was too late.
‘We just gave up the big inning again,†Scarpello said. “I think the first four innings we were letting her control us pretty good. Our job is to put pressure on them, I think they were putting pressure on us so much we weren’t responding. But we just gave them too many opportunities and you just can’t do that against good hitting teams.â€
However it was in the bottom of the 6th that UNO’s offense came back, in a big way.
First Lizzie Noble tripled in two runs for the Mavs, then Megan May hit a three-run home-run to tie the game at 5-5. The game went to extra innings after both teams failed to score the go ahead run. In the 8th inning Nebraska started off with a walk and a hit batter, putting the go ahead runs on 1st and 2nd base. Husker short-stop Alicia Armstrong hit a pivotal three-run double and Nebraska led 8-5. Husker Emily Lockman shut down the UNO side in the 8th inning and Nebraska won 8-5 (8 inn). Scarpello said the team showed fight when they were down late and that shows growth.
“We keep telling them, this is the college game nowadays, 8-5, 9-8, you name it, and runs are going to be scored. You can’t get down; you just have to keep coming back. I thought we had pretty good composure as a team and I think they had some fight in them that was the best thing I saw. We didn’t have that all year so I think that was good.â€
Husker head coach Rhonda Revelle was impressed with UNO. She said Nebraska’s three Division-I softball schools (Nebraska, UNO, Creighton) allows for a special relationship among them. Revelle lauded the job Scarpello has down since the transition in 2011.
“I think Jeanne is a great coach, I think that whole coaching staff is a phenomenal coaching staff,†Revelle said. “We bring them down to work our Christmas camp every year, so we have a chance to go out and talk shop. So we know them on a personal level too and we think they do a fabulous job. You can put them anywhere in the country and their going to have a successful program.â€
UNO (20-21 overall, 5-4 Summit) now sets off on an eight game road trip, including two Summit series. This starts with a three games in Vermillion Saturday and Sunday. Nebraska (23-18 overall, 10-4 Big Ten) next plays Northwestern University in Lincoln this weekend with a three game series.
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