Back-to-Back Blasts Power NU to Victory

Lubbock, Texas ? Back-to-back solo home runs from Jamie Waldecker and Crystal Carwile lifted the No. 17 Nebraska softball team to a dramatic 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday afternoon.

 

After Nebraska built a 2-0 lead through the first four and a half innings despite stranding nine base runners, an opportunistic Texas Tech offense made the most of its chances, using three singles and six stolen bases - including two steals of home - to score one run in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

 

That set the stage for Waldecker and Carwile's heroics in the seventh. After launching a blast down the left field line that sailed just foul, Waldecker belted a 2-1 pitch deep over the wall in left to tie the game. On the very next pitch, Carwile went the opposite way with her team-leading 12th home run and what proved to be her fifth game-winning home run this season. The freshman has hit three tie-breaking seventh-inning home runs this season.

 

The back-to-back homers marked the fourth time this season NU has hit consecutive home runs, with Carwile being involved in each occasion. In fact, Waldecker and Carwile have teammed up twice this season, while Carwile and senior Trisha Tannahill have also gone back-to-back twice this year.

 

Nebraska built its 2-0 lead despite stranding base runners in each of the first five frames. After leaving two runners on base in the top of the first, the Huskers put runners on first and third with only one out in the second and were able to convert. Junior Devin Porter reached on an error to lead off and advanced to second on a ground out before senior KoKo Tacha singled. Junior Carmen Kier then singled to center on an 0-2 pitch to bring Porter home with the game’s first run.

 

Senior Lizzy Aumua then loaded the bases when she reached on a fielder’s choice where no out was recorded, but NU was unable to plate another run as senior Jessica Yoachim and Waldecker both popped out to end the inning.

 

The Huskers again put two runners on with only one out in the third but were unable to score.

 

In the fourth, back-to-back one-out singles from Aumua and Yoachim put runners at first and third with only one out for the third straight inning. Nebraska was able to convert this time as Waldecker lined a ball to center for a sacrifice fly that scored Aumua to put the Huskers ahead 2-0.

 

After retiring 12 straight hitters, junior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr surrendered back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the fifth. Robyn Wike then laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached first safely, but Nebraska was able to record an out on the play. Carwile fielded the ball near home plate, but threw wildly to third in an attempt to get the out there. The errant throw helped the Huskers as Nebraska was able to get Jennifer Bowers caught in a rundown between second and third.

 

With runners on first and third and only one out, DeBuhr fell behind pinch hitter Megan Shupp, 0-2 before fighting back to strike her out. On strike three, pinch runner Emily Niederhofer took off for second. NU cut off the throw in attempt to throw out Amanda Oakes, who had taken off for home, but the throw was late and Oakes scored to cut the Huskers’ lead to 2-1.

 

After NU was retired in order for the first time in the game in the top of the sixth, DeBuhr hit Ashley Parker with the first pitch in the bottom of the frame. Parker then advanced to third when Devin Zaragoza laid down a bunt that spun away from a charging Kier at third base. A stolen base put runners at second and third with no outs for the middle of the Red Raider order.

 

Whitney Riley then hit a chopper to short and Porter went home with the throw, but Parker beat the toss to tie the game at 2-2. With runners at the corners and still no outs, Tech executed another double steal, with help from the NU defense. Riley stole second and the Huskers caught Zaragoza in a rundown, but Zaragoza still managed to score the go-ahead run.

 

Two more hit batters loaded the bases with only one out, but the inning ended when Jennifer Bowers lifted a fly ball to center field that was caught by Aumua. Aumua then made a perfect throw to home to nail Riley at the plate on what proved to be a key play in the game after Nebraska's two-run seventh-inning rally.

 

DeBuhr earned the win, improving to 17-6 on the season after tossing her 16th complete game. She allowed three runs on only four hits and struck out six.

 

At the plate, eight different Huskers recorded a hit, as NU out-hit Texas Tech, 9-4. Porter finished 2-fo-4, while Waldecker added two RBIs as part of a 1-for-3 day.

Nebraska and Texas Tech wrap up their two-game series on Sunday at Noon. Following that game, the Huskers return home for a six-game homestand at Bowlin Stadium to close out the regular season.