Ames, Iowa - Amanda Buchholz ripped a game-winning RBI double in the top of the seventh to lead the 12th-ranked Nebraska softball team to a 3-1 victory over Iowa State Thursday afternoon at the Southwest Athletic Complex. With the victory, Nebraska improved to 40-10 overall and 10-1 in the Big 12 Conference. The Huskers, who have won 30 of their last 31 games, also assured themselves of a 40-win season for the third time in the last four years.

Iowa State, which upset No. 14 Iowa Wednesday, fell to 12-22 overall and 1-8 in the league.

With the scored tied 1-1 after six innings, senior first baseman Jamie Fuente led off in the top of the seventh with a single to right. Sophomore catcher Amber Burgess followed with a single to left to move Fuente to second. After freshman leftfielder Nicole Trimboli struck out swinging, Buchholz ripped a 3-2 pitch to right for a double that sent Fuente home for the 2-1 lead. An RBI single by Danelle Arnold scored Amanda Went, who was pinch running for Burgess, to give NU a 3-1 advantage.

ISU pitcher Jen Bice struck out Bates, then walked Cindy Roethemeyer to load the bases for Leigh Suhr with two outs. Suhr popped up to Bice to end the inning.

With two outs and a runner on second in the bottom of the seventh, Leigh Ann Walker struck out pinch hitter Morgan LeCluyse to secure the win.

Walker (16-5) was the winning pitcher for Nebraska after entering the game in relief of Peaches James after 5 1/3 innings with the scored tied, 1-1. She did not allow a hit and struck out three in 2 2/3 innings. Jen Bice (7-12) took the loss for the Cyclones.

After three scoreless innings, Iowa State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out, solo homer by designated player Erica Martinez. Nebraska tied things up in the top of the fifth. Burgess reached on an error to start off the inning, and then Arnold came to the plate with two outs after Trimboli grounded out and Amanda Buchholz flied out to center. Arnold doubled as the ISU first baseman fell over the bag, and Burgess scored to make it 1-1.

Nebraska returns to action when it plays host to Texas A&M in two televised games this weekend. Saturday