Anatoly Tarasov, the Soviet hockey coach considered the father of Russian hockey once told Herb Brooks people focus too hard on winning the 3rd period and that a hockey game can be won in the first 10 minutes; a team can effectively be knocked out after being overwhelmed for a quick early lead and forced to play from behind where mistakes tend to accumulate.
So why the damned hockey lesson?
Because Alabama pretty much did that exact thing to the Nebraska Cornhuskers on a hot, windy evening courtesy
of Marlie Giles cracking a high 3-run homer where everything which leaves the park seems to be landing if the Huskers are playing. And, as even Alabama Head Coach Patrick Murphy acknowledged, a 3-0 lead was effectively all the Crimson Tide needed with All-American Jocelyn Briski on her game.
And on her game she was, as Yoda would say.
Hannah Camenzind was the only Husker to scratch a hit off Briski, but, after she fouled off four pitches which she said weren’t in a spot she liked, she finally found one she did and deposited it – where else?? – the front of the center field bleachers of Devon Park.
Unfortunately, it was too little too late, only cutting the lead to 4-1, a run which Bama quickly got back to bring the score to its final 5-1 count in the bottom of the 4th. I asked Camenzind which part of Briski’s skillset made her so difficult to hit. Said Hannah, “I think just her ability to move the ball to all parts of the zone, and then obviously she can change speeds on top of it – and she has full confidence in throwing it to all quadrants of the zone at any time in the count.“
Add to that a velocity pushing 70mph and one gets the picture.
Along with the complete game 1-hitter, Briski finished the evening with 6 strikeouts and nary a walk. Her effort means Alabama gets to skip a Sunday contest in which temps are expected to peak around 98, and instead wait for the winner of crowd and press favorites Texas Tech and UCLA’s evening elimination game.
As for Nebraska, they jump to the top bracket for an elimination game of their own against our old pals, the Texas Longhorns, which will be played in the day’s heat at 2pm CST. It will also serve as a season rubber match for the Huskers and ‘Horns as they split a pair played in San Antonio back in February. It’s probably safe to say the latter will not be a consideration for either team under these stakes.
After a 1-hitter, there wasn’t much to talk about on the offensive side, but pitching certainly came up.
Naturally, Revelle was asked about Jordy’s outing and she was honest in the answer, but let it be known she still has 100% confidence in Frahm. She acknowledged that Frahm didn’t play her best game, and that “she needs to be able to sleep tonight, because she just takes that stuff so personally. But she’s going to get back out there, and she’s going to fight again, and do her best.”
In relief, Alexis Jensen saw her first WCWS action and, after walking the first batter on four pitches, toughened up and tossed the last 4 innings, giving up only 2 hits while striking out 6, including the 3-4-5 spots in the Tide order in the bottom of the 5th, and walked only one. She surrendered 2 runs, but both were unearned.
Getting Jensen into the fray was a bright spot for Revelle as she will be needed if they can continue beyond Texas, which would require wins in consecutive Monday night games to advance to the final. She discussed talking with Coach Lori Sippel about getting her in early.
“It’s like we need to get Lex in there for that very point, and we need(ed) to get her land legs under her. And so, in that sense, mission accomplished.”
Texas’ Teagan Kavan will likely be waiting for the Huskers after a day off of her own, so it won’t get any easier for the Husker hitters. But they would do well to abide by Coach Tarasov’s wisdom (remember him up at the top?), and come out swinging.
A 3-0 lead to kick things off would do Jordy wonders as she likely toes the middle of the circle for the Huskers tomorrow.
Horns Down and Go Big Red, y’all.
