Walker leads Nebraska with 13 strikeouts in 5-0 win over Cal Poly

Las Vegas, Nev. -- Leigh Ann Walker tossed a two-hit shutout to lead the No. 12 Nebraska softball team to a 5-0 win over Cal Poly Sunday on the final day of competition at the 2001 UNLV Classic. The Huskers finished the weekend with a 3-2 record at the Desert Breeze Softball Complex, also defeating Fordham and No. 20 Oregon but falling to No. 7 California in eight innings and No. 1 UCLA.

Walker had a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings before Nicole Dansby singled to left. The Mustangs' only other hit came in sixth when Holly Ballard singled to right. Walker struggled early, recording all four of her walks in the first two innings, but finished she season-best 13 strikeouts -- two short of her career-high.

"I thought Leigh Ann actually struggled early, but a sign of a good pitcher is when they can still be successful when they're not throwing their best game," NU Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "Midway through, she had worked herself into her best game. She had great command of all of her pitches."

Kristin Murray took the loss for Cal Poly, lasting just 2/3 innings after allowing three hits and three earned runs against five NU batters.

Several Huskers were successful at the plate. Sophomore centerfielder Kim Ogee hit the first home run of her career, a two-run blast over the rightfield fence in the second inning. Junior second baseman Leigh Suhr was 1-for-2 with a double, a run and two RBI. Freshman utility player Briana Bates had her best game of the season, going 2-for-3 with the first double of her collegiate career.

The Huskers got on the board early when Suhr smacked a two-out double to right center in the bottom of the first, sending home sophomore catcher Amber Burgess, who walked, and senior first baseman Jamie Fuente, who singled to center. Freshman rightfielder Danelle Arnold followed with a double of her own to score Suhr, making it 3-0 and prompting Cal Poly to
make a pitching change. The Rams brought in Terra Blankenbeller for Murray, who gave up three hits and three earned runs in 2/3 innings. Sophomore shortstop Amanda Buchholz flied out to end the inning for NU.

"We did a very nice job in the first inning of coming out and setting the tone offensively," Revelle said.

In the second, Nebraska picked up where it left off in the first. After Roethemeyer flied out to center, Bates reached first on a bunt, bringing up Ogee, who laced the first home run of her career over the rightfield fence to make it 5-0. Freshman leftfielder Trimboli flied out to right, and Burgess grounded out to third to end the inning.

The Huskers return to action next weekend when they travel to the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.