Aggies Hand Huskers Second Straight Loss

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>College Station, Texas ? The 18th-ranked Nebraska softball team pounded out seven hits and had a base runner in every inning except one, but was unable to push a run across in a 6-0 loss to No. 7 Texas A&M in front of 797 fans at the Aggie Softball Complex on Saturday.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The loss marked just the third time this season Nebraska (20-11, 0-2 Big 12) has been shut out. The win was A&M’s 14th straight victory and improved the Aggies’ record to 31-2 overall and 3-0 in league play.

 

Sophomore right-hander Ashley DeBuhr (11-9) took the loss for NU, allowing three runs on six hits in five innings. Fellow sophomore right-hander Jaime Borg relieved DeBuhr for the second straight game, allowing three runs on two hits in one inning of work.

 

Amanda Scarborough (18-0) surrendered a career-high seven hits for A&M, but did not allow an earned run, extending her streak to 47 innings without allowing an earned run.

 

It took just three innings for the Huskers to record more hits than they did on Friday. NU’s leadoff hitter singled in each of the first three innings as Nebraska pounded out four hits through the first three frames. The Huskers had a runner in scoring position in the first and third innings, but were unable to produce a run.

 

Texas A&M was able to produce a run in the bottom of the fourth. Sharonda McDonald led off with an infield single and stole second. Jana James then drove a ball to deep right-center field for a one-out triple that brought McDonald home with the game’s first run. DeBuhr settled in and retired the next two hitters to leave James stranded at third and keep the game 1-0.

 

The Aggies added two more runs in the fifth when pinch hitter Laura Durham belted a two-out, two-run home run to left field on a 1-2 pitch.

 

Texas A&M scored three more runs in the sixth inning off Borg. A double to the gap in right-center field by Lindsay Park scored Megan Gibson and pinch runner Lisa Gorzycki to make the score 5-0. Pinch runner Jami Lobpries scored the final run when she scored on an unconventional fielder’s choice. Joy Davis hit a blooper down the left field line with the bases loaded that fell in, but the Huskers were able to throw to third for a force out.

 

Senior Anne Steffan and junior Elizabeth Rock each went 2-for-3 for Nebraska. The Huskers were just 1-for-9 with runners on base, while Texas A&M was 4-for-13.

 

Nebraska returns to action on Wednesday when it travels to Kansas for a 3 p.m. contest against the Jayhawks.