Husker Rally Falls Short

Iowa City, Iowa - In a game that featured an unexpected flurry of runs, sixth-ranked and 10th-seeded California held on for a 4-2 win over the 14th-ranked Nebraska softball team in a winner's bracket game of the Iowa City Regional on Saturday afternoon.

The six combined runs came as a surprise, as Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year Kristina Thorson enetered the game riding a 27 inning scoreless streak and NU junior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr, a first-team All-Big 12 and All-Midwest region pick, had not allowed an earned run in 33.1 innings, covering a stretch of four complete games.

After tossing a three-hit, 10-inning shutout over Iowa on Friday night, DeBuhr (24-9) surrendered three home runs and four earned runs in only three innings of work on Saturday. Freshman right-hander Molly Hill relieved DeBuhr to start the fourth inning in the first postseason action of her career. In three innings of work, Hill blanked the Bears, allowing just two singles while striking out three.

In the circle for Cal, Thorson (34-8) pitched well, despite allowing two runs. She surrendered only a bunt single and struck out 12 while walking two. Both of Nebraska's runs were unearned, as the Bears committed three errors behind Thorson.

Nebraska had an early scoring chance when senior Jessica Yoachim drew a one-out walk in the top of the first and promptly stole second for the middle of the Husker order. Thorson quickly responded however, recording a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.

In the bottom of the frame, DeBuhr allowed her first earned run in 34.0 innings when Haley Woods hit a towering home run just inside the left field foul pole to put the Bears up 1-0.

Another solo home run by Julie Meyer gave California a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. After a two-out single, Woods blasted her second home run of the game, a two-run shot that gave the Bears a commanding 4-0 lead.

Nebraska responded with its first offensive production of the game in the top of the fourth. Yoachim reached on an error to lead off and stole second. Junior Jamie Waldecker then struck out swinging, but reached first safely on a passed ball. Following a strikeout, senior Trisha Tannahill pushed a bunt through the left side and into left field to score Yoachim.

Still trailing 4-1, junior Devin Porter successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt to score junior pinch runner Jaime Borg from third base. On the play, Porter reached safely and advanced to second and Tannahill advanced to third on a throwing error by Thorson. With the tying runners in scoring position and only one out, senior Katie Linke lined into an inning-ending double play.

Nebraska brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth inning after Waldecker drew a leadoff walk, but Thorson retired the game's final six hitters to send Cal (46-12) within one victory of advancing to Super Regional play.

In the loss, DeBuhr and Yoachim set a pair of school records. DeBuhr recorded four strikeouts and now has 281 strikeouts on the season, the most by a junior pitcher in school history. Yoachim, who reached base safely in two of her three plate appearances, stole two bases and is now a perfect 32-of-32 on the season, tying Anne Steffan's school record for most steals in a season.

With the loss, the Huskers (43-11) will face the winner of this afternoon's game between Iowa and Illinois State in an elimination contest slated for a 7 p.m. first pitch.