Bears Hang With Huskers But Drop Two Games
March 14, 2006
LINCOLN, Neb. - The University of Northern Colorado softball team stood toe-to-toe with the No. 15 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Tuesday but could not come out on top, as the Bears fell by scores of 8-0 and 3-1 at Bowlin Stadium.
Northern Colorado (6-18) stayed close with Nebraska through most of the first game on the back of junior pitcher Shea Carpenter, who held the Cornhuskers to one run through three innings.
But it unraveled in the bottom of the fourth when NU tallied seven runs on five hits to go up 8-0. It was all the Cornhuskers needed, as the Bears notched one hit on the day. Nebraska's Ashley DeBuhr got the shutout after going five innings and striking out 13 Bears.
The Bears took the first lead in the day's second after sophomore Mackenzie Barrett doubled in junior Kelsey Dumler, giving Northern Colorado a 1-0 lead after one frame. Nebraska knotted the game at one in the bottom of the second Carmen Kier hit an RBI double to center field.
The Cornhuskers added another two runs in the bottom of the fourth, and it was just enough to give Nebraska the win. Despite losing, Northern Colorado outhit NU 5-3.
Jessica Milligan pitched another solid game for the Bears, giving up three runs in 3.2 innings, but she dropped to 2-8 on the season. Barrett finished 1-for-3 with one RBI. Hillarie Van Otterloo shut down Nebraska in 2.1 innings of relief.
Northern Colorado returns to action tomorrow for a doubleheader against UMKC in Independence, Mo. The first game is set for a 1 p.m. mountain time start.
