Huskers Fall to Bluejays in Nine Innings

Lincoln ? Sophomore right-hander Ashley DeBuhr struck out a career-high 16 batters, but an RBI double from Lauren Flores in the top of the ninth inning propelled the Creighton Bluejays to a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the 18th-ranked Nebraska softball team at Bowlin Stadium on Wednesday in front of 826 fans in the Huskers’ home opener.

 

The top of the ninth began quietly as the first two hitters were retired on a ground out and a strikeout. Katie Ayers then singled to left before the RBI double to the wall in center field by Flores.

 

The lone run in the ninth inning capped a terrific comeback for the Bluejays (20-3). NU (20-9) led 4-0 through five innings and appeared to be in control with Creighton struggling offensively. CU recorded just one hit in the first five innings and struck out 10 times in its first 15 at bats, before breaking through in the sixth inning.

 

In the top of the sixth, Creighton pounded out four hits and scored five runs with the help of one Nebraska error. DeBuhr struck out Ayers to start the inning before back-to-back singles put runners at first and third. Christine Fukumoto then hit a fly ball to deep left that popped out of the glove of junior left fielder Trisha Tannahill. That loaded the bases for Abby Johnson, who reached on a hard-hit infield single that scored Ayers with Creighton’s first run.

 

Mary Egan then struck out looking, before a hit batter brought in another run to make the score 4-2. With the bases still loaded, pinch hitter Stephanie Cortese, hitting for just the fourth time this season, recorded her first hit of the year, a bases-clearing double down the left field line to put Creighton in front.

 

Trailing 5-4, NU mounted a comeback of its own in the seventh inning to tie the game with the help of Tannahill.

 

Nebraska went 1-2-3 in the sixth and was down to its final out in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Elizabeth Rock drew a one-out in the seventh and sophomore Jamie Waldecker drew another walk with two outs to put runners on first and second. Tannahill then promptly hit the first pitch she saw from Nielsen to the base of the wall in center field to score Rock with the tying run.

 

Late-inning dramatics were not expected early, as NU jumped out to a 4-0 lead after just two innings.

 

In the bottom of the first, Nebraska scored three two-out runs. Senior Anne Steffan grounded out and junior Jessica Yoachim struck out looking before NU mounted a two-out rally. Junior Elizabeth Rock got things started with a single, before senior Sheena Lawrick drew a walk. Sophomore Jamie Waldecker then took the first pitch from Tammy Nielsen over the wall in left-center field for a three-run home run.

 

The Huskers added another run in the second inning with the help of a Creighton error. Junior Katie Linke led off with a single to right field. Freshman Cassie Kleinsmith hit a ground ball to short with one out, and Creighton shortstop Jessica Merkel threw wildly to first and Linke came around to score.

 

The loss snapped a 15-game win streak for Nebraska in the series and marked the 14th consecutive victory for Creighton.

 

Offensively, Steffan went 2-for-4 to pace the Huskers and extend her school-record hitting streak to 26 games.

 

In the circle, DeBuhr (11-7) tossed a complete game, allowing just eight hits. The game-winning run was the only earned run DeBuhr allowed in the game. Tammy Nielsen allowed five runs (four earned) in a complete-game effort to improve her record to 13-2 on the season.

 

Nebraska returns to the road this Friday and Saturday to open Big 12 Conference play. The Huskers will face No. 8 Texas A&M at 7 p.m. on Friday and Noon on Saturday.