Huskers Victorious in Home Opener

Lincoln ? Junior Devin Porter hit an RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and lift the 17th-ranked Nebraska softball team to a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Missouri Western in the impromptu home opener at Bowlin Stadium Wednesday afternoon.

 

Junior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr (3-1) earned the win for NU, which picked up its seventh straight win in improving to 7-1 on the year. DeBuhr allowed one run on five hits in a complete-game effort, striking out 10.

 

Dana Wertz (2-2) took the loss for the Griffons (4-3). Wertz allowed three runs in six innings.

 

Nebraska jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning. Aumua led off with an infield single, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice from fellow senior Jessica Yoachim. Freshman Crystal Carwile then singled through the left side to score Aumua and put the Huskers up 1-0. NU loaded the bases with two outs, but could not add to its lead.

 

Both teams were shutout until the sixth, when the Griffons plated one run and the Huskers answered with two. Missouri Western tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the frame when Kelsey Wells produced a two-out RBI single that scored Amy Beverly.

 

Nebraska answered back with some clutch hitting in the bottom of the inning. With senior KoKo Tacha on first, Porter laced her two-out triple to the gap in right center to give the Huskers the lead. Junior Carmen Kier followed with an RBI single up the middle to push Nebraska’s lead to 3-1.

 

Aumua and Carwile finished 2-for-3 offensively to pace NU’s nine-hit attack. Carwile also added her team-leading 12th RBI of the season in the first home game of her career.