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St. Cloud State University
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Huskies drop two to national rival
By Derek Sullivan
Published:
Monday, April 19, 2004
Media Credit: Christin Osgood
Husky third baseman Megan Fuches, catches an infield fly ball to end the inning against University of Nebraska Omaha.
In a possible postseason preview, two nationally ranked teams got a sneak peak at each other Saturday.
SCSU split the middle four games of a season high eight-game homestand. The No. 24 ranked Huskies lost two hard fought games to No. 4 ranked Nebraska Omaha (3-2, 4-2) Saturday and won both match-ups (2-0, 5-2) against North Central Conference rival South Dakota Sunday.
UNO grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Mavericks shortstop Nicole Voss' 28th career homerun.
The Mavericks added a run in the third inning. SCSU senior pitcher Nicole Webb walked UNO senior catcher Sarah Sheppers to open the inning. First-year infielder Missy Kelley came in to run for Sheppers. Kelley would come around to score on a hit by UNO first-year outfielder Sara Sortino.
Webb admitted she faced quite a challenging line-up
"This is the most solid line-up I have faced all year." Webb said. "I did not let up on any batter. It did not matter if (they hit) eight or nine. I knew they were all very solid hitters."
While Webb fought to keep SCSU in the game, her counterpart was fashioned a perfect game.
UNO freshman starting pitcher Charis Kuster entered the contest with a 14-1 record and an ERA under one run. The young gun was having no trouble with the Huskies' powerful lineup.
Through six innings, Kuster had not allowed a single base runner. Eighteen batters up and 18 batters retired.
SCSU junior left fielder Abby Velta led off the seventh inning with a solid line drive to left, ending the game. Center fielder Callie Stewart grounded to first, advancing Velta to second.
UNO head coach Jeanne Tostenson walked out to talk with her infield. Presumably, the talk revolved around pitching to SCSU All-American first baseman Brooke Gentzler with first base open. UNO decided to pitch to Gentzler.
Gentzler took a first-pitch fastball over the leftfield fence, tying the game at two runs apiece. As the first baseman's teammates cheered, Gentzler knew the Huskies grabbed momentum.
"It was nice to change momentum," Gentzler said. "Velta did a great job getting on and it was nice to tie it up."
For the first time this season, SCSU went to extra innings. Both Webb and Kuster dominated in the eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th innings. Webb struck out six batters in the four innings, while Kuster allowed only one hit.
In the 12th inning, UNO took the lead. Mavericks sophomore first baseman Lauren McArthur beat out an infield single. Sophomore Jenny Pritchard would run for McArthur and score on a hit by UNO third-baseman Shilo Jorgenson.
SCSU's last inning rally fell short. Velta singled with one out, but Kuster pitched around the hit. Stewart and Gentzler could only hit infield pop-ups.
SCSU got down early in the second game as well. UNO scored four runs on four hits. Bases-loaded singles by junior Erin Bluml and first-year Kellyn Kramolisch gave the Mavericks a 2-0 lead.
An error by Huskies third baseman Megan Fuches led to two unearned runs and the Huskies trailed 4-0.
First-year pitcher Lacey Trossbach settled down after the second inning to keep SCSU in the contest. The Saint Inigoes, Md. native would allow only one more hit.
"She is a fantastic first-year pitcher," said Husky head coach Paula U'Ren. "She did a great job keeping us in the game."
SCSU rallied in both the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, SCSU pushed across two runs, cutting the lead in half.
With one out, senior shortstop Angie Berg and Fuches walked. Anchorage, Alaska native Abby Augdahl singled, loading the bases. Pinch-hitter Jessica Swartout singled scoring Berg. With the bases still loaded, sophomore catcher Jessica Preiner walked scoring Augdahl.
In the bottom of the seventh, Stewart singled to begin the inning. The rally would stop there. UNO first-year pitcher Taren Tuley got a ground ball out from Gentzler and a ground ball double play from Berg.
SCSU bounced back from a doubleheader sweep from the North Central Region No. 1 team to defeat USD twice Sunday.
The Huskies won the first game, 2-0, scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Webb and USD junior pitcher Angela Palma dueled for four innings. Webb allowed three hits, while Palma only allowed four hits.
SCSU finally broke through against the Coyote left-hander in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Velta singled to center, stole second and scored on a base hit by Stewart.
The Huskies doubled their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth. After Berg grounded out, Augdahl singled. The sophomore scored on a double down the third baseline by Webb.
Webb did not need the insurance run. The senior scattered five hits in picking up her 16th victory (16-4).
Her catcher, Preiner, said Webb was especially dominating.
"She has got amazing movement," Preiner said. "Inside curves, outside curves. She really dominated this weekend."
USD jumped on the Huskies in the second game against Trossbach, with two first inning runs.
Coyote shortstop Kim Bogatz led off the game with single to left. Second baseman Nicole Heineman beat the throw to first for a single. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by senior third baseman Mollie Witherbee.
With runners on second and third, Trossbach threw a wild pitch over Preiner's head. While trying to throw out Bogatz at home plate, Preiner threw the ball past Trossbach allowing Heineman to score the second first inning run.
SCSU immediately cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the first. Stewart singled hard up the middle. One out later, Berg singled past the second baseman. With runners on first and third, USD first-year pitcher Shannon Anderson threw a wild pitch allowing Stewart to score. After one inning, SCSU trailed 2-1.
SCSU used the long ball to take the lead in the second inning. Swartout led off the inning with a walk. One out later, Preiner homered deep over the left field fence. The homerun gave the Huskies a 3-2 lead.
Preiner's homerun was the catcher's second this season. She said this homerun felt a lot better then her first.
"The first (homerun), the wind must have taken it, but this one felt really good." Preiner said.
SCSU added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Berg beat the shortstop's throw for a one-out single. First-year utility player Melissa Owen entered to pinch run and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Augdahl followed with a sharp single to center. Swartout singled to right center scoring Owens and Augdahl.
Trossbach and Webb combined on the seven hitter, allowing only one earned run. Trossbach settled down after giving up two first inning runs, allowing only one more hit. The first-year pitcher said she kept her attitude up so her teammates would stay positive.
"I was trying to keep everyone pumped, and not let the first inning keep us from losing the game." Trossbach said.
The Huskies' record improved to 7-5 in the NCC and 27-10 overall.
Swartout said the team still has lofty expectations.
"We want to sweep UND (Thursday), then go into our tournament this weekend and do well, then go into the conference tournament and win them all," Swartout said.
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