NU to Conclude Fall Season with Husker Classic

Lincoln - The Nebraska softball team wraps up its fall season this weekend when it plays host to the Husker Fall Classic at Bowlin Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9-10.

The Huskers will welcome Colorado State, Kansas and Nebraska-Omaha to Lincoln for the tournament, and will play CSU and UNO twice over the two-day event. The tournament begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday when Colorado State takes on Kansas. NU’s first game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. against Colorado State. The Huskers then take on Kansas at 3 p.m.

On Sunday, Nebraska will face Colorado State at 10 a.m., before closing the tournament with a 5:30 p.m. game against Colorado State.

The Huskers are 9-1 through two tournaments this fall. NU went a perfect 5-0 at the Augustana Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D., Sept. 25-26. At the tournament, Nebraska hit better than .345 as a team and averaged more than five runs per game. The tournament was also a good experience for the Huskers’ young pitching staff. Freshman right-hander Jordan Keen picked up her first victory of the fall and first shutout, while sophomore Jaime Borg, who played outfield last season, notched a victory as well.

Last weekend, Nebraska faced tougher competition at the Michigan Tournament and finished with a 4-1 record. The Huskers defeated Eastern Michigan twice, defeated Central Michigan and split a pair of games with 2003 Women’s College World Series participanat Michigan.

Senior Kira Boerkircher, junior Trisha Tannahill and sophomore Jamie Waldecker each hit home runs at the tournament, which was highlighted by Nebraska’s 2-1 win over Michigan on Sunday. Against the Wolverines, the Huskers pounded out 10 hits, but were tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Junior college transfer Lizzy Rock led off with a single and senior Anne Steffan followed with a bunt single. Junior Jessica Yoachim sacrificed the runners to second and third before Waldecker laid down a squeeze bunt to score Rock with the winning run.

Sophomore right-hander Ashley DeBuhr pitched well over the weekend, posting a 2-0 record while throwing two complete games and did not allow an earned run.

At the conclusion of the Husker Fall Classic, Nebraska will be off until beginning spring practice in 2005. The Huskers’ first games are scheduled for Feb. 11-13 at the UNLV Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.

Husker Fall Classic Schedule
Date                     Opponents                                          Time
Saturday, Oct. 9    Colorado State vs. Kansas                10 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9   Nebraska vs. Colorado State    12:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9    Kansas vs. Nebraska                      3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9   Kansas vs. Nebraska-Omaha               5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 10   Nebraska vs. Colorado State         10 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 10    Kansas vs. Colorado State            12:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 10    Nebraska-Omaha vs. Kansas              3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 10   Nebraska vs. Nebraska-Omaha   5:30 p.m.

Husker Fall Results to Date
Date           Opponent                            Result
Sept. 25     South Dakota State%          W, 6-3
Sept. 25     Augustana%                       W, 5-4
Sept. 25     St. Cloud State%                W, 6-1
Sept. 26     Minnesota State-Mankato% W, 7-0
Sept. 26     North Dakota State%           W, 2-1
Oct. 2        Eastern Michigan#               W, 4-3
Oct. 2        Michigan#                             L, 1-4
Oct. 2        Central Michigan#                W, 3-0
Oct. 3        Eastern Michigan#               W, 5-4
Oct. 3        Michigan#                           W, 2-1
% - at Augustana Tournament
# - at Michigan Tournament