Missed Chances Cost Huskers in Loss

Oklahoma City, Okla. - Despite out-hitting Missouri, 6-4, the Tigers produced the only runs of the game as MU upset the No. 14 Nebraska softball team, 3-0, Wednesday on the first day of the Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City.

NU was hurt by missed chances, as the Huskers left eight runners on base, including a pair of innings where Nebraska had the bases loaded with only one out but did not push a run across. NU fell to 40-9 overall with its first loss in nine games, while Missouri improved to 25-25 with its second win of the day.

Missouri's Jen Bruck tossed a six-hit shutout to record her first complete-game shutout of the season. The shutout marked just the third time this season Nebraska had been shut out and the first time since March 25 against two-time national player of the year Cat Osterman.

Bruck (23-19) allowed six hits, including a pair of doubles and walked five but was able to work out of jams all night. Bruck, who suffered the loss in both of Missouri's losses to the Huskers last weekend, won her second game of the day, as the Tigers defeated Texas Tech, 6-3, in a play-in game to earn the right to face Nebraska.

In the circle for NU, junior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr lost for the first time in seven decisions, falling to 22-7 on the season. DeBuhr pitched well, allowing just four hits and striking out seven.

Missouri jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Bruck took the first pitch of the second inning over the wall in center for a solo home run.

Nebraska's best scoring chance came in the bottom of the fourth when a pair of singles from juniors Jamie Waldecker and Devin Porter, along with a walk to senior Trisha Tannahill, loaded the bases with only one out. Freshman Brittany Pascale then hit a hard grounder that was snagged by Bruck, who threw home for the force before the Tigers threw back to first to complete an inning-ending double play.

DeBuhr did not allow a hit or a walk until Missouri added to its lead in the top of the sixth. A one-out walk, followed by a two-out single and an intentional walk loaded the bases for Amanda Renth, the Tigers' No. 5 hitter. Renth promptly delivered a two-run single on the first pitch she saw to put MU ahead 3-0.

In the bottom of the frame, Nebraska again loaded the bases with only one out but did not convert. Freshman Crystal Carwile doubled and Tannahill and Porter coaxed walks to load the bases before Pascale struck out and senior pinch hitter Katie Linke was then credited with a single after Tannahill was ruled out on an interference call on a ground ball to short.

Porter paced the NU offense with a 2-for-2 day that included a double and a walk.

With the loss, Nebraska drops into an elimination game on Thursday at 2 p.m. against the loser of tomorrow morning's game between third-seeded Baylor and No. 6 seed Kansas.

Nebraska's game on Thursday can be heard live on Huskers.com