Six-Run 10th Sparks NU Win

Lubbock, Texas - A two-run, seventh-inning rally paved the way for a six-run 10th inning that gave the No. 17 Nebraska softball team a 10-4 extra-inning win over Texas Tech on Sunday in the Huskers' final road game of the regular season.

After playing catch up with the long ball in the seventh inning of Saturday's game - which the Huskers won 4-3 on a pair of solo home runs in the final frame - NU used small ball for another two-run rally in the seventh inning Sunday. Entering the seventh, the Huskers trailed 3-2 and had stranded eight runners through the first six frames.

Nebraska sent its Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters to the plate in the top of the seventh. Senior Jessica Yoachim led off the inning with an infield single and then stole second. Junior Jamie Waldecker then fell behind in the count 0-2 and fouled off seven two-strike pitches before reaching first on a dropped third strike. Freshman Darcy Rutherford pinch ran for Waldecker at first, and freshman Crystal Carwile drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases for senior Trisha Tannahill.

Tannahill hit a grounder to first, but Jennifer Bowers' throw home was wild allowing Yoachim to score the tying run and Tannahill to reach first safely. Junior Devin Porter was then retired for the first time in the game on a pop out to the catcher. Freshman Brittany Pascale was then hit by a 1-0 pitch to bring Rutherford home with the go-ahead run. The Huskers had a chance to add more as the bases remained loaded with only one out, but a pop out and a ground out ended the inning.

Leaving the bases loaded cost Nebraska, as Texas Tech forced extra innings with a run in its half of the seventh. Ashley Parker struck out swinging, but reached first safely on a wild pitch to get things started. She then stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a one-out double off the bat of Whitney Riley.

After rallying in the seventh, Texas Tech nearly won the game in the eighth. On an appeal play, Bowers was awarded first base on a catcher's interference call to lead off the inning. She advanced to second on a sacrifice and beat Porter's throw to third on a fielder's choice where no out was recorded. Failing to get an out nearly cost the Huskers, as the next batter flew out to shallow right for what could have been the third out. After an intentional walk to Ashley Parker loaded the bases, Montana Patin re-entered the game to hit and was called out on a clutch 3-2 pitch from Husker sophomore Ashley DeBuhr over the inside corner.

The international tie breaker rule went into effect in the 10th inning and Tacha was placed on second for NU. She advanced to third on a sacrifice from junior Carmen Kier. Tacha then scored what proved to be the game-winnng run when senior Lizzy Aumua reached first safely on an error. After failing to add to their one-run lead in the top of the seventh, the Huskers atoned by adding five more runs in the 10th.

Aumua promptly stole second and fellow senior Jessica Yoachim followed with an infield single and her second stolen base of the game to put runners at second and third with only one out. Waldecker then singled into left to score Aumua and took second on the throw home. With two on, Carwile put the Huskers up by three with a squeeze bunt that plated Yoachim. Carwile also reached first safely on the play.

After Texas Tech recorded a force out at home, Porter belted the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for a three-run homer that extended NU's lead to 10-4.

In the bottom of the inning, Tech put runners at first and second with no outs before DeBuhr retired the next three hitters to give Nebraska its 35th victory of the season.

DeBuhr was outstanding in relief of freshman starter Molly Hill. DeBuhr (18-6) earned the win, allowing just one run on four hits in 7.1 innings of relief. She also tallied nine strikeouts. Hill earned the start and allowed three runs on five hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Nebraska improved to 35-8 on the season with the win and remained in third place in the Big 12 Conference with a 9-4 league record. Texas Tech fell to 18-31 overall and 4-11 in the conference, despite a strong relief outing by Sarah Losleben (1-6), who allowed just four earned runs over the final 7.1 innings.

Montana Patin gave Tech an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when she went the opposite way with a 2-2 offering from Hill that got caught in the wind and carried just over the fence.

After getting a base runner in each of the first two innings, Nebraska converted in the top of the third. Kier was hit by a one-out pitch and advanced to second when Aumua reached on a fielder's choice where no out was recorded. With two outs, Waldecker lined a single into left field that scored Kier from second to tie the game at 1-1. Carwile then drew a walk to load the bases for Tannahill, who popped out to second against new pitcher Sarah Losleben.

The Red Raiders answered the run in the bottom of the frame. Ashley Parker reached on a one-out slap double that landed just behind the third base bag over a drawn in Kier. Parker remained at second until Riley laced an RBI double just inside the third base line. Brandy Moulin followed with an RBI single that put Texas Tech up 3-1 and spelled the end of the day for Hill.

NU got a run back in the top of the fourth when the Huskers put runners at first and second with no outs. Porter led off with a single, before Pascale drew a walk. After a popped up bunt and a strikeout, Aumua slapped a single through the left side on a 2-2 pitch to score Porter. Yoachim followed with an infield single to load the bases for the second time in the first four frames. Waldecker then struck out swinging to end the inning.

Waldecker was one of three Huskers to record a multi-RBI game, fininshing 2-for-6 with two RBIs. Aumua also drove in two, while Porter produced three RBIs. Porter also finished 3-for-5 at the plate, joining Yoachim (3-for-5) and Waldecker in the multi-hit category.

Nebraska returns home this week to begin a six-game homestand to end the regular season. The Huskers open the week with a game against in-state rival Creighton Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Bowlin Stadium.