Huskers Top Tigers, 3-1

Lincoln ?  The 14th-ranked Nebraska softball team wrapped up a second-place finish in the Big 12 Conference and the No. 2 seed in next week's Big 12 Championship with a 3-1 victory over Missouri in front of 1,017 fans at Bowlin Stadium on Saturday.

 

Junior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr (22-4) picked up her seventh straight win, allowing just one unearned run on four hits while striking out eight. DeBuhr has earned the victory in each game of Nebraska's current seven-game winning streak. The Huskers improved to 39-8 overall and 12-4 in the league with the win, NU's 19th victory in 20 home games this season.

 

Jen Bruck (21-18) took the loss for Missouri (23-24, 7-10 Big 12). Bruck pitched well, however, as she did not allow an earned run while tossing a complete-game four-hitter.

 

The Huskers took an early 1-0 lead with the help of a Missouri error in the bottom of the first. Senior Jessica Yoachim reached on a one-out single and stole second. She scored when junior Jamie Waldecker hit a ball that was misplayed by the second baseman, allowing Yoachim to score.

 

Another Tiger error led to a second Husker run in the second inning. Freshman Brittany Pascale laced a one-out single to center and senior KoKo Tacha followed with a walk to put runners on first and second. Freshman pinch runner Meghan Mullin then scored when senior Lizzy Aumua hit a grounder that was again misplayed by the Missouri second baseman.

 

Missouri cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth. A double and a single put runners at the corners with only one out. After DeBuhr recorded a strikeout, Jen Bruck came home on a passed ball for the Tigers’ first run.

 

The Huskers added an insurance run in the sixth. Junior Devin Porter led off the inning with a single and Pascale drew a walk. A sacrifice bunt from Tacha put runners at second and third with one out and junior pinch runner Jaime Borg scored on another Missouri error to put Nebraska up 3-1.

 

 

NU was held to just four hits, but ran into some tough hitting luck as several hard hit balls were snagged by the Missouri fielders. Aumua and Pascale each finished with one hit, while Porter - the Huskers' leading hitter in Big 12 play - finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.

 

Nebraska concludes the regular-season tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Missouri. The Huskers’ five-player senior class will be recognized before the game.