Huskers Top Michigan in Husker Fall Classic

Lincoln - Junior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr allowed only one run in a combined 12 innings of work, picking up two wins as the Nebraska softball team defeated Creighton and defending national champion Michigan in front of 724 fans on the second day of the Husker Fall Classic at Bowlin Stadium Saturday.

 

In two games, DeBuhr struck out 15 and did not walk a batter while surrendering only eight hits. Senior Trisha Tannahill drove in four runs in the pair of victories, including a three-run double in the Huskers’ final at bat that snapped a 1-1 tie with the Wolverines.

 

The Huskers are now 2-1 in the tournament and face Canada in a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at approximately 2 p.m. In other Husker Fall Classic action, Michigan defeated ColoradoState, 2-1, in the first game of the day. The Rams bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Creighton in game two.

 

Sunday’s action at Bowlin Stadium begins with a contest between ColoradoState and Creighton at 10 a.m.

 

Game 1: Nebraska 2, Creighton 0 (six innings)

Nebraska defeated Creighton 2-0 in six innings in the Huskers' first game of the day. The game was shortened in an effort to keep the day’s games on schedule. Junior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr picked up the victory, tossing a complete-game four-hitter. She did not surrender a walk and struck out nine batters.

 

In the bottom of the first, seniors Jessica Yoachim and Lizzy Aumua led off with back-to-back infield singles. The pair advanced a base after a ground out from senior Trisha Tannahill, but a line out and a pop out from junior Jamie Waldecker and freshman Brittany Pascale ended the threat.

 

The top of the order again produced a scoring threat in the third inning. Yoachim reached on an infield single and Tannahill drew a one-out walk to put runners at first and second for Waldecker. The threat ended when Yoachim was thrown out attempting to steal third and Waldecker grounded out on the next pitch.

 

The Huskers finally cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Devin Porter began the inning with a line drive single to left field and freshman Meghan Mullin followed with a bunt single. Porter advanced to third and Mullin to second on a throwing error by the pitcher and Yoachim was then intentionally walked to load the bases.

 

With the bases full, Aumua promptly delivered an RBI single to center field to put NU up 1-0. Creighton starting pitcher Stephanie Cortese was replaced by Melissa Gomez. Tannahill then worked the count full before singling to center to score Mullin with the game’s second run. Gomez then posted three consecutive strikeouts to leave the bases loaded.

 

For the game, the Huskers outhit the Bluejays, 11-4, but were plagued by nine stranded base runners in six innings. Yoachim recorded a three-hit day, while Aumua, Porter and Mullin each finished with two hits.  Aumua and Tannahill produced the only RBIs of the game.

 

Game 2: Nebraska 4, Michigan 1 (six innings)

Junior Ashley DeBuhr allowed only one run in six innings of work and senior Trisha Tannahill’s three-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning lifted NU to a 4-1 six-inning, come-from-behind victory over defending national champion Michigan. The game was shortened in an effort to keep the day’s games on schedule.

 

Tiffany Worthy gave the Wolverines an early 1-0 lead with a one-out solo home run in the top of the second inning.

 

Nebraska’s first chance to score came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Seniors Lizzy Aumua and Tannahill reached on consecutive one-out singles to put runners on first and second. Junior Devin Porter then struck out and fellow junior Jamie Waldecker was retired on a hard-hit grounder to second to end the threat.

 

In the top of the fifth, Michigan loaded the bases with only one out for leadoff hitter Tiffany Haas. DeBuhr coaxed a ground ball from Haas, and the Huskers got the force out at home for the second out. Samantha Findlay then lined out to first to end the inning with the score still 1-0.

 

In the bottom of the frame, junior Katie Linke led off with a single and freshman pinch runner Darcy Rutherford advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from fellow freshman Crystal Carwile. Junior Carmen Kier then drew a walk and freshman pinch hitter Brittany Pascale sent a grounder to the shortstop on the first pitch she saw. The Wolverines’ Teddi Ewing threw low to first and Rutherford came around to score from second to tie the game.

 

Following a pop out, Aumua reached on a single to load the bases for Tannahill with two outs. Tannahill laced a 1-1 pitch off the wall in right-center field to clear the bases and give the Huskers a 4-1 lead.

 

DeBuhr retired Michigan 1-2-3 in the sixth to close out the game. Jennie Ritter, the 2004-05 Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year and first-team All-American, took the loss for Michigan, allowing four runs (none earned) on six hits in five innings.

 

Offensively, Tannahill finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Aumua recorded her second straight multi-hit game with a 2-for-3 effort.