Missouri Home Runs Doom Huskers

Oklahoma City, Okla. ? A first inning grand slam and a solo home run in the fourth inning lifted the 16th-ranked Missouri softball team to a 5-1 victory over No. 25 Nebraska on Friday in an elimination game in the Big 12 Tournament.

 

With the loss, NU finished with a 2-2 record at the tournament and fell to 35-21 overall. Missouri improved to 40-12 and advanced to face Baylor later this evening in the semifinals.

 

Erin Kalka, who tossed a three-hit shutout against the Huskers in the final regular-season game, allowed only one run on five hits in a complete-game effort. Sophomore right-hander Ashley DeBuhr tossed a complete-game for NU, allowing five runs on six hits, while striking out seven.

 

Two single-season school records fell in the loss, as junior Elizabeth Rock recorded two sacrifices to give her 24 on the season to break Deanne Carr’s school record of 22, set in the 1982 season. Senior Anne Steffan’s stolen base in the seventh inning upped her season total to

32, eclipsing Kim Ogee’s school record of 31 in 2002.

 

Nebraska struck quickly with a run in the top of the first inning. Junior Jessica Yoachim drew a one-out walk. Rock then moved Yoachim to second with her record-breaking sacrifice and wound up safe at first on the play and Yoachim advanced to third. Senior Sheena Lawrick then laid down a perfect bunt for an infield single that brought Yoachim home with the game’s first run.

 

Rock’s sacrifice in the inning was her 23rd of the season, a new school record. Deanne Carr previously held the school record with 22 sacrifices in the 1982 season.

 

Missouri answered in the bottom of the frame when Heather Kunkel hit a grand slam home run. A pair of one-out singles and a walk loaded the bases before DeBuhr coaxed a pop out for the second out of the inning. Just when it looked like she might get out of the jam, Kunkel deposited DeBuhr’s first pitch over the wall in left field to give Missouri a 4-1 lead.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, Kathy Masterson ended DeBuhr’s string of nine consecutive hitters retired with a home run to left-center on an 0-1 pitch.

 

Nebraka’s best chance to score after the first inning came in the top of the fifth. Freshman Cassie Kleinsmith reached on an error to start the inning and she was replaced on the base paths by Steffan, who reached on a fielder’s choice. Steffan advanced to second on a sacrifice from Yoachim and third on a single by Rock, before Lawrick grounded out to end the inning.

 

Nebraska will now await word on the NCAA Tournament. The tournament selection show will air live on ESPNews between 6:30 and 7 on Sunday night.