Huskers Stay Alive In Capital Classic Consolation Bracket

Sacramento, Calif. -- Sophomore pitcher Leigh Ann Walker second two-hit shutout in eight days kept the Nebraska softball team's hopes of a Capital Classic consolation championship alive Saturday. The Huskers blanked Middle Tennessee, 8-0, behind Walker's performance and 13 Husker hits. Nebraska was knocked into the consolation bracket earlier in the day by No. 25 Texas A&M, who beat the Huskers 1-0 in a morning contest. The Huskers are now 14-15 on the year and 2-4 in the Capital Classic.

Although the Middle Tennessee game ended in a run-rule, the Huskers didn't score a single run until the third inning. Freshman Kim Ogee led off the third with a double to left center. After a sacrifice bunt by Leigh Suhr, which moved Ogee to third, Jamie Fuente executed a safety squeeze bunt that brought in Ogee for the game's first run. Walker lost her no-hit bid in the bottom of the third when the leadoff batter singled. But she soon retired the side, leaving the Huskers' 1-0 lead intact. Nebraska padded its lead in the fourth. Jenny Voss scored the first run off a Ginger Taylor bunt single and an error on the Lady Raider's first baseman. Taylor was then bunted to second and singled home by Jennifer Lizama. Lizama scored the final run of the inning when Suhr singled to left, bringing home Lizama from third. The Huskers added enough runs for the run rule in the fifth inning thanks to five hits and two Middle Tennessee errors. Amber Burgess hit a leadoff single and was followed up by a single from Jenifer Williams. Voss reached on an error by Middle Tennessee's second baseman to load the bases for Taylor with no outs. Taylor came through with an infield single to score Jill Baker, who pinch ran for Burgess. After an Alice Brewer strikeout, Lizama also singled bringing in NU's sixth and seventh runs of the game. Ogee added the games final run with a single that scored Taylor. Walker struck out seven and walked none in five innings of work. Ogee lead all Husker hitters with a 3-for-4 with one run scored and one run batted in.

Two of the Big 12's finest pitchers grinded it out in the first game of the day. All-American Voss went to the mound for the Huskers, while 11-game winner Amy Vining went to the hill for A&M. Fuente was the first person to reach base from either team with a one-out single in the top of the second. Williams followed it up with a single to left field, but both batters were left stranded. Voss held the Aggies in check early, bringing a no-hitter in to the bottom of the fifth inning. Selena Collins led off with a single to right field. Hollee Hayden came in to pinch run for Collins and immediately stole second. The steal paid off as Kelly Ferguson hit a single to center that scored Hayden from second base. The run proved to be all the Aggies would need as Nebraska left runners on second base in both the sixth and seventh. Fuente hit a two-out double in the sixth which ended on Williams pop up to the catcher. Lizama and Voss were on first and second, respectively, in the seventh when Ogee popped out to third for the games final out. Voss fell to 4-6 on the year after surrendering just two hits and striking out three. Fuente went 2-for-2 in the game.

The win over Middle Tennessee advanced Nebraska to the consolation semifinals at 11 a.m. (central) on Sunday. The Huskers will face Louisville, who they lost to, 3-0, in the first game of the tournament.