Huskers Win Slugfest over Roadrunners

Las Cruces, N.M. ? Junior Jessica Yoachim and senior Sheena Lawrick each set a school record as the 19th-ranked Nebraska softball team exploded for 17 hits and 14 runs in a six inning 14-6 victory over Texas-San Antonio in the second day of the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M.

 

Yoachim went 5-for-5 at the plate, establishing a new school record for most hits in a game of seven innings or fewer. The previous record was four which had been reached by 31 players. Lawrick finished 1-for-1 with a home run and four RBIs, but drew a walk in each of her last four at bats to break the previous school single-game walk record of three.

 

The win was Nebraska’s fifth straight and improved the team’s overall record to 5-1. Sophomore right-hander Ashley DeBuhr (2-1) earned her second consecutive victory in relief, tossing four innings of shutout ball while allowing only two hits. DeBuhr closed the door on the Roadrunners' offense after they scored six runs (two earned) in two innings off NU freshman starter Jordan Keen.

 

Ursula Mares (2-2) took the loss for Texas-San Antonio, which fell to 6-6 on the season.

 

Sophomore Devin Porter also enjoyed a career game against UTSA. Porter, who had never had more than one hit in a game, finished 4-for-4 with a career-high three runs scored, a career-high two doubles and one RBI. Junior Elizabeth Rock also recorded a multi-hit game, finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored and a career-high two RBIs.

 

Texas-San Antonio got off to a quick start, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Each of the Roadrunners’ first four hitters reached base on a walk, a double, an error and a double. With two runs in and two runners on with only one out, Keen retired the next two hitters before Stevi Simpson’s single to left scored Jennifer Davis with the third run of the inning.

 

The Huskers answered right back in the bottom of the first with three runs of their own. Senior Anne Steffan led off with a bunt single and wound up on third after a two-base throwing error on the Roadrunners’ third baseman. Yoachim drove Steffan in on the next pitch with a single to left before Lawrick connected on her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to center field to tie the game at 3-3.

 

UTSA answered right back with another three runs in the top of the second. With one out, two straight Roadrunners reached on a walk and an error before Aimee Murray cleared the bases with a two-out three-run home run to left center field on a 1-2 pitch.

 

Nebraska answered back again in the bottom of the second with the aid of several good at bats. Porter fought off two 1-2 pitches before singling to center to start the inning. Steffan was then hit by a pitch and Yoachim fought of a 1-2 pitch before sending a single to left field to load the bases. Lawrick followed with an RBI walk to score Porter. In another good at bat, junior Trisha Tannahill fought off a 2-2 pitch before sending a grounder to second that Mel Torres was unable to field, allowing Steffan to score and bring the Huskers to within 6-5.

 

After a scoreless third inning, Texas-San Antonio threatened to expand its one-run lead in the fourth. The Roadrunners loaded the bases with only one out before DeBuhr coaxed a ground ball that turned into a force out at home for the second out. DeBuhr then fell behind Jessica Els 3-0 before fighting back to get Els to pop out to Steffan on a 3-2 pitch to keep it a one-run game.

 

Not to be outdone, Nebraska also loaded the bases with only one out in the bottom of the fourth, but NU was able to push across three runs with a two-out rally. Yoachim singled to lead off the inning and Lawrick followed with a walk. Sophomore Jamie Waldecker reached on a one-out single and was lifted for senior pinch runner Kira Boerkircher.

 

Following a strikeout, Tacha worked the count full after falling behind 1-2 and singled up the middle to score Yoachim and Lawrick and give the Huskers their first lead of the game at 7-6. Porter followed with her third hit of the day, a double off the bottom of the wall in left field to score Boerkircher. Rock followed with a two-run double to left to score Tacha and Porter and extend Nebraska’s lead to 10-6.

 

NU added two more runs the following inning. Yoachim again led off with a single and Lawrick followed with another walk. Tannahill advanced the runners to second and third with a ground out and Waldecker drove in Yoachim with an RBI groundout. Lawrick then scored the Huskers’ 12th run of the game when Texas-San Antonio’s first baseman Krystal Gibson was unable to handle a ground ball by NU freshman Cassie Kleinsmith.

 

The Huskers closed out the run-rule victory with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Porter led off the inning with her fourth hit of the game and Rock followed with a single. Steffan advanced the runners with a sacrifice before Yoachim’s school-record fifth hit of the game, a double that scored Porter. Following a walk to Lawrick and a strikeout by Tannahill, Waldecker singled up the middle to score Rock and end the game.

 

Nebraska's 17 hits were the most since at least 2001 and marked the third time in four games that the Huskers reached double-digits in hits. Nebraska also went 11-for-23 (.486) with runners on base against UTSA. Through six games, NU's overall batting average is now .351.

 

NU plays again today with a contest with Loyola beginning at approximately 5 p.m.