Huskers Defeat Cowgirls, 10-0

Stillwater, Okla. ? Junior Ashley DeBuhr tossed a two-hit shutout and fellow junior Devin Porter hit a pair of solo home runs to lead the 17th-ranked Nebraska softball team to a 10-0 run-rule victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon.

 

The win was the Huskers' sixth straight and improved NU's record to 26-6 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12 Conference. Nebraska scored in five of six innings, including a five-run sixth that wrapped up the run-rule victory. The Huskers scored their 10 runs on 12 hits, which marked NU's ninth game this season with 10 or more hits and first since March 17.

 

While the offense was producing, DeBuhr (13-5) was dominant in the circle once again. DeBuhr picked up her second consecutive shutout and sixth in her last eight starts. She allowed just two hits and struck out six en route to picking up her seventh shutout of the season.

 

Jessica Hoppock (9-13) allowed five runs (four earned) in five innings of work to take the loss for Oklahoma State (16-18, 2-4).

 

Nebraska scored an early run in the top of the first. Senior Lizzy Aumua led off with a triple over the center fielder’s head. She then came home with the game’s first run on a wild pitch.

 

The Huskers added one more run in the top of the third. Freshman Brittany Pascale drew a leadoff walk. An error by the catcher and an infield single from Aumua put runners on the corners with one out. Freshman pinch runner Meghan Mullin then scored when the OSU shortstop dropped a pop up off the bat of senior Jessica Yoachim.

 

NU then loaded the bases with one out, but was unable to push another run across as freshman Crystal Carwile struck out swinging and senior Trisha Tannahill was called out on strikes.

 

Porter extended the lead to 3-0 when she sent a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right field for her sixth home run of the season.

 

Nebraska added two more runs in the top of the fifth. Aumua reached on an infield single, but was thrown out attempting to steal second, her first caught stealing in 18 attempts this season. Yoachim then reached on an infield single and junior Jamie Waldecker followed with another single and advanced to second on the throw to put runners at first at second.

 

After OklahomaState recorded the second out of the inning, Tannahill reached on an infield single that scored Yoachim and junior pinch runner Jaime Borg to put the Huskers up 5-0.

 

Porter greeted OSU left-hander Kristina Giustozzi by hammering her first pitch to left center for her second solo home run of the game. Porter's second blast marked the first multi-homer game of her career. The Huskers continued to apply the pressure, as Pascale singled, Kier drew a walk, and Aumua reached on an infield single to load the bases.

 

DeBuhr, who pinch ran for Pascale, then came home when Yoachim reached on a fielder's choice and the OSU catcher was not on home plate when the Cowgirls attempted to get the force at home. Waldecker then hit a fly ball to center and Shanel Scott lost the ball in the sun as the ball fell for a single that scored Kier and put the Huskers up 8-0.

 

Tannahill then scored two with a double to the gap in left center. Leading 10-0, Nebraska did not plate another run as senior pinch hitter Katie Linke flied into an inning-ending double play.

 

Tannahill finished the day 2-for-4 with four RBIs, which tied her career high. Aumua finished a perfect 4-for-4 as four Huskers recorded multi-hit games. Porter finished 2-for-3 with the two home runs.

 

The Huskers and Cowgirls wrap up their two-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m.