Clutch Hits Deliver 4-3 Victory for NU

Lincoln ? A two-out, eighth-inning single from senior Katie Linke capped a four-run comeback, the Huskers' largest of the season, as the 17th-ranked Nebraska softball team defeated in-state rival Creighton, 4-3, in extra innings Thursday night at Bowlin Stadium.

 

Linke's walk-off hit was made possible by freshman Brittany Pascale, who forced extra innings with a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the seventh. The Huskers trailed by one entering the bottom of the seventh for the third time in their last four games and just as it had the previous three times, NU rallied to tie the game. Pascale pinch hit for senior KoKo Tacha and took a strike before sending the second pitch of the inning over the wall in center for her first career home run.

 

In the top of the eighth, Bailey Dawson was placed at second for Creighton in accordance with the international tie breaker. She was sacrificed to third before junior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr retired the next three hitters to keep the score tied.

 

Senior Jessica Yoachim was placed on second in the Huskers' half of the inning. She moved to third on a sacrifice from junior Jamie Waldecker and the bases were loaded following intentional walks to freshman Crystal Carwile and senior Trisha Tannahill. Junior Devin Porter then popped out before Linke singled to left on the first pitch she saw to score Yoachim with the game-winning run.

 

Linke's single made a winner of DeBuhr, who relieved freshman starter Molly Hill. DeBuhr allowed just one hit in 2.2 innings of work to improve to 20-6 on the season. Hill tossed a solid 5.1 innings and did not allow an earned run while surrendering just three hits and striking out seven.

 

Stephanie Cortese, bidding for her second straight win versus a ranked team, took the loss for Creighton. Cortese allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits in 7.2 innings.

 

Nebraska improved to 37-8 with the victory, its fifth consecutive win. Creighton fell to 20-24 with the loss.

 

Creighton's offensive production came with three unearned runs off three Nebraska errors in the top of the fifth. A hit batter and an error put runners at first and second with no outs. After recording an out, another Husker error allowed a run to score and put runners at second and third. A third NU error allowed two more runs to score and give the Bluejays a 3-0 lead.

 

Nebraska answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Porter was hit by a pitch and Linke followed with a single to put runners at first and second. After two straight batters were retired, senior Lizzy Aumua lined a single into left field to score Porter. Yoachim then reached on an error to load the bases.

 

With the bases loaded and two outs, junior Jamie Waldecker coaxed a walk on a 3-2 pitch to score junior pinch-runner Jaime Borg and cut the lead to 3-2. Carwile then grounded out to second to end the inning.

 

Linke paced the NU offense with a 2-for-4 night that included an RBI. Aumua, Waldecker and Pascale also added RBIs for the Huskers.

 

Nebraska returns to action this weekend when the Huskers welcome 15th-ranked Texas A&M to Bowlin Stadium for a two-game series that features the second- and third-place teams in the Big 12 Conference. First pitch for Saturday is set for 1 p.m.