Eighth-Inning Run Lifts Huskers to Victory

Lincoln - The 11th consecutive victory did not come easy for the Nebraska softball team, but sophomore Kimberly Fuller's bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning brought senior Devin Porter home with the game-winning run in NU's 2-1 victory over North DakotaState on Saturday at Bowlin Stadium.

With the win, Nebraska (19-7) improved to 4-0 at the Big Red Tournament. In addition to the 11-game winning streak, the Huskers have posted 11 straight wins at Bowlin Stadium dating back to last season. Overall, NU has won 15 of its last 17 games and 24 of its last 25 contests at home.

The game was tied at 1-1 after seven innings and in accordance with the international tie breaker, North DakotaState began the top of the eighth with a runner at second. Senior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr worked around the leadoff runner, ending the inning with her 11th strikeout of the game.

That set the stage for Fuller's dramatics in the bottom of the inning. With Porter placed on second, a pair of intentional walks, combined with a fly out, loaded the bases with only one out. Fuller then stepped into the box and watched four straight balls to record her third game-winning RBI of the season.

Fuller's walk made a winner out of DeBuhr who improved to 9-3. In a complete-game effort, DeBuhr did not allow an earned run and surrendered just four hits while striking out 11.

Bekki Rasmussen (5-4) took the loss for North DakotaState (17-13), allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits in 7.1 innings.

With DeBuhr cruising, it looked like Nebraska wouldn't need extra innings after taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Darcy Rutherford began the inning with a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice from sophomore Meghan Mullin. Rutherford then scored on an RBI single off the bat of Porter.

North Dakota State answered back in the top of the fifth with the help of a key Husker error. Jackie Currie reached on the error and eventually scored on an RBI ground out from Erin Troup.

Fuller's game-winning walk was her second of the day as Nebraska drew five walks as a team. Porter paced the offense with a 2-for-4 day and she also drove in the game's first run and scored the game's final run.

Nebraska returns to action on Sunday for the final day of the 2007 Big Red Tournament. The Huskers face North DakotaState at 11 a.m. before hosting Arkansas at 4 p.m. Both games can be heard on select Husker Sports Network stations - including KLIN 1400 AM in Lincoln - and worldwide on Huskers.com.

Box Score

The Automated ScoreBook North Dakota State at Nebraska Mar 17, 2007 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

North Dakota State 1 (17-13)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Grete Peterson cf........ 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 Lynnae Foshag lf......... 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 1 Kelly Cantrell c......... 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 Allison Bakke pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Melissa Chmielewski 1b... 3 0 0 0 0 1 12 0 0 Jandie Weber dp.......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 Jackie Currie 3b......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 Taylor Lynn pr.......... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jennifer Morse ss........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 Laurel Pipkin 2b......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 5 2 0 Aimee Enzler ph......... 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Erin Troup rf............ 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 Bekki Rasmussen p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 Totals................... 26 1 4 1 1 11 22 14 5

Nebraska 2 (19-7)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 3 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 Mullin, Meghan rf........ 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Porter, Devin ss......... 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 0 0 0 1 0 6 1 0 Pascale, Brittany c...... 4 0 0 0 0 0 9 3 3 Long, Haley dp........... 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 Fuller, Kimberly 2b...... 2 0 0 1 2 0 3 0 0 DeBuhr, Ashley p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Hupp, Alex ph........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Kier, Carmen 3b.......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 1 Gonzalez, Crystal cf..... 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 26 2 5 2 5 1 24 8 11

Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------ North Dakota State.. 000 010 00 - 1 4 3 Nebraska............ 001 000 01 - 2 5 2 ------------------------------------------

Note: 1 out, 3 runners LOB when the game ended.

E - Chmielewski(2); Morse(8); Rasmussen(4); Porter 2(6). DP - Bison 1. LOB - Bison 5; Cornhuskers 11. SH - Morse(4); Troup(4); Mullin 2(9); Gonzalez(4). SB - Morse(5). CS - Morse(4).

North Dakota State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Bekki Rasmussen..... 7.1 5 2 1 5 1 26 34 117

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- DeBuhr, Ashley...... 8.0 4 1 0 1 11 26 29 106

Win - DeBuhr (9-3). Loss - Rasmussen (5-4). Save - None. Pitches/strikes: Rasmussen 117/71; DeBuhr 106/72. Umpires - HP: Matt Titkemeier 1B: Jeff Sloan 3B: Kevin Killingsworth Start: 1:30 pm Time: 2:01 Attendance: Game: NU26