Huskers Improve Win Streak To Nine With Sweep Of Rams

Lincoln -- The Nebraska softball team stretched its season-long winning streak to nine games Tuesday evening with a sweep of the Colorado State Rams at the Husker Softball Complex. The Huskers got an RBI single from Ginger Taylor in the first game to escape with the 1-0 win and pounded out 10 hits in a 12-4, five-inning, run-rule second game. Nebraska improves to 22-15 with the wins while CSU falls to 8-16 on the year.

Freshman Kim Ogee led off Nebraska's half of the first inning of the first contest with a single to center field. After stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch, Taylor hit an infield chopper that brought in Ogee for the game's only run. Nebraska loaded the bases in the inning but left all three stranded with two consecutive strikeouts. Husker starter Penny Cope was doing some striking out of her own. Cope struck out a career-high 10 batters in six innings on the hill. The only time the Rams threatened was in the top of the seventh when Cope surrendered two singles to lead off the inning. Leigh Ann Walker came on in relief of Cope and got three straight outs to pickup her first save of the year. Cope improved to 5-5 on the year with the four-hit shutout.

The second game was the complete opposite of the first. The two teams combined for 11 runs in the first inning, including eight by the Huskers. The visiting Rams batted first and scored three runs on two doubles. Nebraska answered with eight runs on four hits and an error. Ogee and Taylor led off with singles and Amber Burgess walked to load the bases. Jamie Fuente then collected an infield single and Jenifer Williams walked to bring home the first two runs. A bases-loaded passed ball tied the game at three, but that would be the last time it was tied. After Heather Martin walked to load the bases again, freshman Amanda Buchholz doubled to left center to bring in two more runs. Another passed ball brought in the sixth run. The seventh and eighth runs were scored on an error, hit into by Taylor. The Rams added another run in the top of the second when Holly Schmillen hit her second double of the game. Nebraska didn't score again until the bottom of the fourth when Buchholz again doubled to right center to score Jill Baker. Buchholz scored a play later on another CSU miscue. The Huskers ended the game early in the fifth when Williams doubled down the rightfield line to score Burgess. The game ended when Buchholz drew a bases loaded walk to give the Huskers the 12-4 win. Buchholz also drew an GWRBI walk on Sunday against Missouri. Buchholz finished the game 2-for-4 with four runs batted in. Ogee and Fuente also collected two hits apiece. Walker took the win for the Huskers, despite surrendering four runs in 1 1/3 innings of play. Jenny Voss came on in relief and allowed just one hit the rest of the way.

Nebraska will finish off the Colorado State series at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the Husker Softball Complex.