DeBuhr Posts Third Consecutive Shutout in 5-0 Win

Lincoln ? Behind another dominating pitching performance from junior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr, the 16th-ranked Nebraska softball team pushed its winning streak to 10 games, as the Huskers finished a doubleheader sweep of South DakotaState with a 5-0 win on Wednesday.

 

DeBuhr improved to 15-5 by tossing her third consecutive shutout and seventh in her last nine starts. She allowed just three hits and struck out six while walking none. Her efforts led Nebraska (30-6) to its 30th win of the season and improved the Huskers' record at Bowlin Stadium to a perfect 11-0 this year. It took NU just 36 games to reach the 30-win mark, which matches the 2002 squad for the fewest games to record 30 victories in school history.

 

Kim Westendorf (8-13) suffered her second loss of the season, despite pitching well. Westendorf allowed just one earned run on three htis in five innings, but was charged with four unearned runs. South Dakota State fell to 14-21 overall with the loss.

 

After being frustrated offensively through the first four innings, the Huskers broke through with one run in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Devin Porter was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior KoKo Tacha and scored when freshman Brittany Pascale laced a double to the gap in left center.

 

NU loaded the bases one inning later when senior Jessica Yoachim reached on an error, junior Jamie Waldecker walked and freshman Crystal Carwile was hit by a pitch. Senior Trisha Tannahill then ripped a 3-2 pitch up the middle for an RBI single that scored Yoachim and spelled the end of the game for Westendorf.

 

New pitcher Jenna Marston recorded back-to-back strikeouts before senior pinch-hitter Katie Linke lined a two-run single into right field to score Carwile and Waldecker and put the Huskers up 4-0. DeBuhr then helped herself out with an RBI single to left that scored Tannahill and pushed NU's lead to 5-0.

 

Pascale and Linke finished the game 1-for-1, with Pascale driving in one run and Linke knocking in two.  Carwile and Tannahill were 1-for-2 in the nightcap with Tannahill driving in a run, while DeBuhr finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.

 

Nebraska (30-4) returns to action tomorrow when the Huskers host Drake at 7 p.m. at Bowlin Stadium. That contest will mark NU's fourth game in the last three days.