Huskers Win Capital Classic Consolation Championship

Sacramento, Calif. --- The Nebraska softball team used two shutout performances Sunday to capture the Capital Classic consolation title and gain some momentum as they head into Big 12 play next weekend. Nebraska avenged an earlier loss to Louisville with a 2-0 blanking of the Cardinals and claimed the consolation bracket with a 7-0 shutout of Utah State. The Huskers finished 4-4 in the four-day tournament and stand at 16-15 on the season.

Nebraska came close to run-ruling the Utah State Aggies, but left 11 stranded in the seven-inning, 7-0 win. NU scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman Amber Burgess hit a single to center, scoring fellow frosh Kim Ogee from second. Jenifer Williams and Ginger Taylor each added two-out singles to load the bases. But first baseman Lori Tschannen flied out to center field to end the first. Leigh Ann Walker got the start on the mound for the Huskers and was pulled in the top of the third, following two Aggie hits in the bottom of the second. Penny Cope came on in relief and held Utah State to just three hits over the next five innings, while striking out eight. Nebraska finally gave Cope some breathing room in the fourth when Jennifer Lizama hit an infield single that scored Taylor from third to make it 2-0 Huskers. The Huskers posted the biggest inning of the game in the fifth on two hits and four Aggie errors. Four batters in a row, Williams, Taylor, Tschannen and Alice Brewer, reached base on errors. Jill Baker then hit into a fielder's choice that scored NU's fourth run. Lizama then hit one of her two doubles for the game, bringing home Brewer and Tschannen. The Huskers added a seventh run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Tschannen to that sprung Jenny Voss loose. Lizama and Taylor each finished 3-for-4, while Lizama finished with three RBI.

The Huskers advanced to the Utah State game by virtue of its 2-0 victory over Louisville. Both Husker runs came in the third inning. Voss, who started on the mound for the Huskers, drew a leadoff walk and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brewer. Baker then reached on an error, putting runners on first and second. With two outs, Cardinal pitcher Mandy Rockwell unleashed a wild pitch advancing both runners one base. Ogee loaded the bases with a walk bringing up Burgess. The freshman came up big, slugging a single to left field that scored both Baker and Voss for the only runs of the game. Louisville never really threatened, advancing a runner to second only once in the game before she was picked off. Voss improved to 5-6 on the year with her four-hit shutout. She walked three and struck out seven Louisville batters. Ogee, Burgess, Fuente and Taylor were the only Huskers to collect hits.

Taylor led all Huskers at the tournament with an 8-for-13 (.615) performance. Lizama hit .321 (9-for-28) with six runs batted in and Ogee hit .333 (9-for-27).

Nebraska will be back in action on Wednesday, March 22, at Creighton in Omaha, Neb. The Bluejays and Huskers will play a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.