Huskers Advance with 6-0 Victory

Oklahoma City, Okla. ? Sophomore right-hander Ashley DeBuhr tossed a two-hit shutout and the Huskers scored three first-inning runs as the Nebraska softball team advanced in the Big 12 Tournament with a 6-0 win over IowaState on Wednesday.

 

DeBuhr (22-17) allowed just four base runners in the game and struck out 11. Her 11 strikeouts increased her season total to 281, which moved her up to third-place on the NU single-season chart. DeBuhr’s outing helped NU advance to the first round of the tournament and improve the Huskers’ overall record to 34-19 on the year.

 

Alyssa Ransom (11-20) took the loss for ISU, which ended its season with a 19-32 record. Ransom tossed 5.1 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on 10 hits.

 

NU scored in each of the first two innings to give DeBuhr all the run support she would need.

 

In the first inning, senior Anne Steffan led off with a slap to third base. The ball was bobbled by ISU’s Diana Reuter, who threw wildly to first base. The ball went down the right field line and Steffan came around to score and put the Huskers up 1-0. Junior Elizabeth Rock then began a string of four consecutive hits for NU with a one-out, bunt single. Senior Sheena Lawrick followed with another single and junior Trisha Tannahill added another single to load the bases for sophomore Jamie Waldecker. Waldecker delivered with a two-run single that scored Rock and Lawrick.

 

NU added another run in the second frame. Sophomore Carmen Kier, who returned after missing the last five games due to injury, led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error by the Cyclones’ right fielder. She advanced to third on a groundout from freshman Cassie Kleinsmith. Steffan then reached on an infield single and stole second before junior Jessica Yoachim brought Kier home with a successful sacrifice slap.

 

Steffan’s stolen base was her 31st of the season, tying Kim Ogee’s single-season school record set in 2002.

 

The Huskers added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kier reached on a one-out single and freshman Cassie Kleinsmith was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Steffan then loaded the bases when she reached on a bunt single. Yoachim then brought Kier home with a ground ball to second and wound up safe at first on a throwing error. NU added its final run when Rock singled to bring Kleinsmith home.

 

Steffan and Rock each finished 2-for-4, while Lawrick and Kier each went 2-for-3.

 

With the win, Nebraska advances to the first round of the tournament, where it will face second-seeded Oklahoma.