Huskers Shutout Cyclones To Remain Perfect At Home

Lincoln -- Sophomore Leigh Ann Walker, fresh off a Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honor, hurled a complete-game shutout to lead the Nebraska softball team to a 6-0 win over the Iowa State Cyclones, Tuesday, at the Husker Softball Complex. Walker struck out 11 Cyclone batters while walking none and junior Jamie Fuente went 3-for-3 with a double and home run as the Huskers won their 17th straight game at home. Nebraska improves to 34-18 overall and 9-2 in the Big 12 Conference to remain in second with a one-game lead over the Texas Longhorns.

Fuente got things going for the Huskers offensively. Fuente hit a one-out double to right field in the bottom of the second and moved to third a play later on Jenifer William's single. With two runners in scoring position, Leigh Suhr, playing third base for the first time in her career, smacked a double to left to put NU on top 2-0. Nebraska added to that lead in the bottom of the fourth with Fuente again getting the Huskers going with a leadoff single. After a strikeout and pop out, Heather Martin came to the plate as a pinch hitter for Jill Baker and singled to left to score Fuente from second and put the Huskers up 3-0. Iowa State threatened in the top of the fifth inning, putting two runners in scoring position. But Laura Browning was one of Walker's 11 strikeout victims to end the rally. Nebraska put the game out of reach in the bottom half of the fifth. Jennifer Lizama recorded a single off the top of the rightfield fence with one out. Penny Cope pinch ran for Lizama and advanced to third on Amber Burgess' stand-up double. With two on and one out, Fuente came to the plate for the third time and smashed a 1-2 pitch over the centerfield fence. The homer was the team-leading ninth of the season and 15th of her career, tying her with Amy Offenbacker and Jane Kremer for seventh on the career chart, and put the Huskers up for good 6-0. Walker surrendered two hits in the sixth and one in the seventh, but none of the Cyclone runners found their way home and the Huskers took the win. Walker improved to 14-5 with the win and lowered her league-leading ERA in Big 12 games to 0.75. Fuente went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three runs batted in and was just a triple away from the cycle. Suhr collected her first two hits since returning from a hip injury last weekend.

Nebraska will continue its homestand on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. contest against in-state rival Creighton. The Huskers are 2-1 against Creighton so far this season.

Iowa State 000 000 0 0 7 1
Nebraska 020 130 x 6 10 1
W: Leigh Ann Walker (14-5); L: Jen Bice (8-5)
E: Lessenger (1), Suhr (11); LOB: Iowa State 8, Nebraska 5
2B: Ogee (9), Burgess (9), Fuente (4), Suhr (1); HR: Fuente (9); HBP: Buchholz; SH: Cathey (6); SB: Frank (16), Baker (9)
Time: 2:09; Attendance: 215