Sun Devils Eliminate Huskers From Leadoff Classic

Columbus, Ga. -- No. 23 Nebraska's hitting drought continued Sunday in a 3-0 loss to No. 4 Arizona State, eliminating the Huskers from the NFCA Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Complex. The Huskers collected just four hits, marking the fourth straight game with less than five team hits. With the loss, Nebraska fell to 7-9 on the year and 2-3 in the Leadoff Classic.

Arizona State started slow in the early-morning contest. The Sun Devils put only one run on the board in the first four innings. That run came in the second when Lesley Murphy singled over the rightfielder's head to score Sara Kahler from second base. In the fifth the Sun Devils began to pull away, adding a pair in the top half of the inning on three consecutive singles. Meanwhile, the only advanced one runner past first, when Amber Burgess singled Kim Ogee to second base in the fourth inning. But Ogee was left stranded and the Huskers collected only one more hit the rest of the way. Arizona State added four runs late in the seventh on a two-run double by pitcher Kirsten Voak and a two-run homer by Erica Beach.

Voak picked up the win for ASU to improve to a perfect 11-0 on the year. Leigh Ann Walker took the complete game loss for the Huskers to fall to 3-2. Ogee, Burgess, Jaime Fuente and Leigh Suhr each collected a single for the Huskers.

Nebraska's three losses at the Leadoff Classic all came to top-15 teams, including a loss to No. 1 Washington late Saturday night.

Oklahoma, Washington, Fresno State and LSU remain alive in the Gold Championship bracket which will conclude Sunday afternoon.

Nebraska will embark on a two-week excursion to California on Thursday for the National Softball Invitational in Sunnyvale, Calif., on March 10-12.