Bats Come Alive in 7-3 Win

Wichita, Kan. ? Senior Ashley DeBuhr and freshman Alex Hupp teamed up for back-to-back home runs as the Husker offense exploded for seven runs in the first three innings before NU held off a late rally to pick up its fifth straight victory with a 7-3 win over Western Illinois on Saturday at the Shocker Invitational.

 

DeBuhr and Hupp's back-to-back home runs capped a two-run third inning that put Nebraska ahead 7-0 through three. It also capped a great offensive performance from the pair, as they went a combined 4-for-6 with a double, two home runs, two RBIs and three runs scored. DeBuhr hit her first home run of the season while finishing 2-for-3. Hupp, who entered the game just 2-for-27 on the year, recorded her first career multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and her first career home run.

 

DeBuhr and Hupp also teamed up in the circle. In the first three innings, DeBuhr allowed only one hit, a perfectly-placed fly ball down the right field line that dropped for a single. She also added four strikeouts and did not walk a batter. DeBuhr then re-entered the game to relieve Hupp in the bottom of the fifth and worked out of a two-on, no-out jam.

 

The Huskers appeared to be cruising to their most complete performance of the season until the offense went silent and Western Illinois used four consecutive singles and an NU error to put up three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

 

Despite the slow finish, Nebraska put together one of its best offensive performances of the season. The Huskers' seven runs tied their season high and were the most NU has scored in a seven-inning game this season. Nebraska also left a season-low four runners on base - converting nine hits into seven runs - while striking out a season-low one time. The Huskers were also a perfect 4-of-4 on stolen bases.

 

DeBuhr (7-3) earned the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in six innings of work, while striking out eight. Hupp allowed just one hit while tossing a scoreless inning.

 

The win was Nebraska's season-high fifth in a row. With the victory, the Huskers - winners in nine of their last 11 - improved to 13-7 on the season and 3-0 at the Shocker Invitational. Western Illinois fell to 3-7 on the season and 0-3 on the weekend.

 

The Huskers manufactured a run in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. Sophomores Darcy Rutherford and Meghan Mullin reached on back-to-back singles to begin the inning. The duo then executed a double steal and Rutherford scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of fellow sophomore Crystal Carwile.

 

NU added four more runs in the second to take a commanding 5-0 lead. A DeBuhr single and a double from Hupp put runners at second and third with just one out. After a foul out, Rutherford reached on an RBI infield single that brought DeBuhr home. A late throwing error allowed Hupp to score and Rutherford to advance to second.

 

Leading 3-0, Mullin singled and stole second to put runners at second and third. Senior Devin Porter then hit a grounder that was misplayed at short to allow Rutherford to come home. Mullin then scored the final run of the inning when she came home on Western Illinois’ third error of the inning.

 

Nebraska used the long ball to take a 7-0 lead in the top of the third, when DeBuhr and Hupp hit back-to-back two out, solo home runs. The home run marked the Huskers’ third in three games after NU had hit just three through its first 17 games entering the weekend.

 

In addition to Hupp and DeBuhr's big day, Rutherford and Mullin each went 2-for-4 while hitting first and second for NU.

 

Nebraska wraps up day two of the Shocker Invitational against Minnesota in its second of back-to-back Saturday games.

Box Score The Automated ScoreBook Nebraska vs Western Illinois Mar 10, 2007 at Wichita, Kan. (Hawkins Stadium)

Nebraska 7 (13-7)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 4 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 Mullin, Meghan rf........ 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 Porter, Devin ss......... 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 0 0 1 0 0 7 0 1 Pascale, Brittany c...... 4 0 1 0 0 0 8 0 1 Borg, Jaime pr.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fuller, Kimberly 2b...... 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 0 DeBuhr, Ashley p/dp...... 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex dp/p.......... 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 Kier, Carmen 3b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Gonzalez, Crystal cf..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 30 7 9 4 1 1 21 6 4

Western Illinois 3 (3-7)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Garcia, Jennifer rf...... 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 DePolo, Julie 3b......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 Green, Nicole dp......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Schlotfeldt, Erin c...... 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 Sinks, Rachel pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Heagney, Racheal 2b...... 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Valentine, Samantha 1b... 3 0 1 0 0 1 10 0 1 Powers, Torie pr........ 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hession, Lindsey cf...... 2 0 1 1 1 0 4 0 0 Mason, Britt lf.......... 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 Furgala, Lauren ss....... 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 1 Jacobson, Courtney p..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pankratz, Lori p/ph..... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 Totals................... 27 3 6 2 2 8 21 9 6

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 142 000 0 - 7 9 1 Western Illinois.... 000 003 0 - 3 6 3 -----------------------------------------

E - Pascale(1); Heagney; Furgala 2. LOB - Cornhuskers 4; Westerwinds 6. 2B - Hupp(2). HR - DeBuhr(1); Hupp(1). HBP - DePolo. SF - Carwile(1). SB - Rutherford(6); Mullin 2(8); Porter(3); DePolo; Sinks; Hession 2; Mason.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- DeBuhr, Ashley...... 6.0 5 3 2 0 8 23 24 86 Hupp, Alex.......... 1.0 1 0 0 2 0 4 6 25

Western Illinois IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Jacobson, Courtney.. 2.2 8 7 5 0 0 16 17 57 Pankratz, Lori...... 4.1 1 0 0 1 1 14 15 50

Win - DeBuhr (7-3). Loss - Jacobson (1-2). Save - None. HBP - by DeBuhr (DePolo). Pitches/strikes: DeBuhr 86/60; Hupp 25/11; Jacobson 57/38; Pankratz 50/28. Umpires - HP: Bruce Plummer 1B: Terry Holt 3B: Rick Boyer Start: 9:55 am Time: 1:55 Attendance: Hupp faced 2 batters in the 5th. Game: NU20