Lawrick's Slam Leads Huskers to Tournament Title

Sioux Falls, S.D. - Sheena Lawrick's fourth-inning grand slam sparked the Nebraska softball team to a 10-0 win over South Dakota in the final day of the Augustana Tournament Sunday afternoon. Earlier in the day Nebraska put two more victories under its belt with wins over North Dakota (9-1, 5 inn.) and North Dakota State (2-0).

Overall, the Huskers went 6-0 at the Augustana Tournament, posting wins over South Dakota State (13-1), St. Cloud State (3-2) and Augustana College (9-1) on Saturday. NU concluded the fall portion of its schedule with a 13-4 record.

Trisha Tannahill and Lawrick hit RBI singles in the first inning to put Nicole Trimboli and Jessica Yoachim across home plate, giving Nebraska a two-run lead over South Dakota. In the third, freshman Jamie Waldecker hit an RBI single to left center to drive home Lawrick, who hit a single down the right field line and advanced to third on an error by the right fielder.

Nicole Trimboli tabbed the ball to leftfield, reaching on an error by the leftfielder, driving in KoKo Tacha, who hit a double to left field. Jessica Yoachim followed with a single up the middle to load the bases in the fourth with no outs. Lawrick trailed hitting a four run homer to drive in Anne Steffan, who reached on an error by the shortstop, Trimboli, and Yoachim.

But the Huskers weren't done with the inning just yet. Freshman Devin Porter hit an RBI single through the left side to bring home freshman Jaime Borg, who reached base on an error by the shortstop. Tacha batted for a second time in the inning, hitting an RBI double to leftfield, driving in Porter to put the Huskers ahead, 10-0. The game ended at the end of the fifth due to the eight-run rule.

Starting pitcher Ashley DeBuhr threw a complete game to capture another win, improving her record to 4-1. Between the two games pitched, (UND and USD) DeBuhr threw for 10 innings and struck out eight batters all while only relinquishing one run on six hits.

Taking the loss for South Dakota was starter Shannon Anderson who threw for four innings. Anderson allowed 10 runs on 12 hits and struck out one Husker.

In first game on Sunday, the Huskers broke out with five runs in the first inning followed by three more in the second and a lone run in the fifth. North Dakota answered with only one run in the third inning. Starter Tara Petersen took the loss for the Fighting Sioux, yielding nine runs on ten hits.

Lawrick and Trimboli each had a great game against North Dakota, hitting 2-for-2 with two RBIs apiece. Yoachim hit 2-3 and with two RBIs. The designated player, Katie Linke, hit an RBI double driving in Lawrick in the first. Linke then stole home to score the Huskers fifth run of the inning. In the second, Lawrick hit a double RBI triple to drive in the first two runs of the inning. Lawrick followed home when Linke hit an RBI single through the left side.

Nebraska's starter DeBuhr threw for five innings and struck out five Fighting Sioux and allowed only one run and two hits.

Nebraska shut out North Dakota State, 2-0, Sunday afternoon. NDSU held Nebraska scoreless until the third inning when Lawrick hit an RBI single to score Trimboli, who got on base by hitting a single to right center field and stealing second.

Steffan hit an RBI double down the leftfield line to bring home pinch hitter Linke, who got on with a single up the middle to score NU's second and last run of the game.

Senior Peaches James (5-2) only let up two hits, struck out 10, and walked three batters to acquire the win for the Huskers. Starter Lindsey Graham took the loss for the Bison handing over two runs on nine hits to Nebraska.