Texas Tech Athletics
Nebraska
Red Raiders Fall In Extra Innings to No. 17 Nebraska
April 23, 2006 | Softball
April 23, 2006
LUBBOCK, Texas - Sophomore outfielder Whitney Riley tied a season-high with three hits and drove in two runs as the Texas Tech softball team fell by a score of 10-4 in a nearly-four hour 10-inning affair to the No. 17 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Sunday at Rocky Johnson Field.
The loss drops Tech's overall record this season to 18-31 and 4-11 in Big 12 play, while Nebraska improves to 35-8 and 9-4 in league play.
Redshirt freshman Montana Patin put the Red Raiders in the lead 1-0 early in the contest as she connected on a slicing solo home run that drifted inside the left field foul pole. The blast was the fourth of the season for the Houston, Texas, native.
In the top of the third, the Cornhuskers knotted the game at 1-1, scoring a run on a RBI single by Jamie Waldecker. The run chased Red Raider starter Julie Hauck, who allowed only the one run on 2 2/3 innings of work.
Texas Tech recaptured the lead in the bottom of the third as Ashley Parker led the inning off with a double to left field and was able to score two batters later on a run-scoring double by Riley, who also came around to score in the frame on a RBI single by junior designated player Brandy Moulin.
Nebraska was able to cut the Tech lead to 3-1 in the top of the fourth as the `Huskers strung together three hits in the inning off reliever Sarah Losleben. The Snoqualmlie, Wash., native threw well in the contest, tossing a season-high 7 1/3 innings.
The `Huskers offense continued to roll as they scored two in the top of the seventh to gain their first lead of the game at 4-3, tallying runs on a Tech error and a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the frame.
Trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Tech got their leadoff batter on when Ashley Parker was able to reach on a strikeout wild pitch. Parker was able to bring home the winning run later in the frame when Riley double off the wall in left field. The Red Raiders left two runners on the frame and we forced into extra innings for the third time this season.
Parker collected her Big 12 leading 32nd stolen base in the contest as she swiped second in the frame.
After the first two extra frames went by scoreless, the `Huskers exploded to plate six runs in the top of the 10th innings open a commanding 10-4 lead. Texas Tech got a lead off knock from pinch hitter Elizabeth Eimen to kick off the bottom of the tenth, but could do no more damage.
Prior to the game, Texas Tech softball honored its three senior student-athletes, Erin Crawford, Julie Hauck and Amanda Oakes, who were competing in the final home Big 12 game of their standout careers.
Red Raider softball is back in action on Wednesday when they take the field at Rocky Johnson Field for the final time this season as they host Texas-San Antonio in a doubleheader. Game one is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m.
