Huskers Pick Up Fourth Straight Win

Wichita, Kan. ? Sophomore right-hander Ashley DeBuhr did not allow a hit after the first inning and picked up her first shutout of the season in the 18th-ranked Nebraska softball team’s 4-0 victory over Texas Tech on a windy night at Wilkins Stadium on Saturday.

 

The win was Nebraska’s first over a Big 12 team this season, although it does not count toward the conference standings. With the victory, NU improved to 16-5 this season, while Texas Tech fell to 11-9 and saw its three-game win streak end.

 

DeBuhr (7-4) picked up her second victory of the tournament with her complete-game effort. DeBuhr allowed only two hits in the game while recording six strikeouts against just one walk. Keely Tucker (0-1) took the loss for the Lady Raiders, allowing four runs in a complete game.

 

Senior Anne Steffan extended her hitting streak to 18 straight games with a single to lead off the game. She advanced to second on a sacrifice by junior Jessica Yoachim and advanced to third on a sacrifice by junior Elizabeth Rock. Senior Sheena Lawrick was then hit by a pitch and, while attempting to steal second, stayed in a rundown long enough for Steffan to score the game’s first run.

 

Texas Tech threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the first. Natalie Enderlin reached on a one-out double when the wind wreaked havoc with her fly ball to left field. Following an infield single, DeBuhr retired the next two hitters to end the inning.

 

Sophomore Jamie Waldecker nearly put the Huskers up 3-1 in the second inning. With junior Katie Linke on first, Waldecker hit a deep drive to center that would have normally cleared the fence, but the wind blew the ball back in and allowed Tech center fielder Ashley Parker to make a nice running catch.

 

NU added two more runs in the third. Sophomore Devin Porter began the inning with a ground ball to third base. The third baseman’s throw appeared to pull Jennifer Corkin off first base, but the first base umpire ruled Porter out. After a lengthy conference with the home plate umpire, it was ruled that Corkin was off the bag and Porter was awarded first base.

 

Steffan then reached on a bunt single and on the play Tucker threw wildly to first. Porter came home on the error and Steffan showcased her speed by coming all the way home to put the Huskers up 3-0. Nebraska added one final run in the three-run inning when Yoachim singled and, following a sacrifice by Rock, scored on an RBI single by Lawrick.

 

Steffan finished 2-for-4 marking her eighth consecutive multi-hit game and her 14th multi-hit game in the last 15 games. Her 18-game hitting streak is just one shy of the Nebraska school record, held by Ali Viola, who reached the mark twice during her career.

 

Nebraska wraps up tournament play on Sunday against WichitaState at 12:30 p.m. Live stats for that contest will be available by clicking on the above link.