Waldecker Lifts Huskers to Walk-Off Victory

Lincoln - Starting her first game at catcher in 25 games, senior Jamie Waldecker drove in two runs, including the walk-off, game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh as the Nebraska softball team completed a Wednesday doubleheader sweep of Colorado State with a dramatic, 3-2 come-from-behind victory.

Waldecker, who suffered a broken hand on Feb. 23, had her cast removed earlier this week and, after pinch-hitting in game one of the doubleheader, Waldecker went 1-for-3 with a walk and the two RBIs.

She stepped to the plate with runners at second and third and one out in the bottom of the seventh and ripped a 2-1 pitch to deep right field to bring sophomore Meghan Mullin home with the game-winning run.

Waldecker's game-winning hit capped a Husker comeback for the second straight day. After Colorado State erased a 1-0 deficit and took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth, the Huskers tied the game in the bottom of the inning before winning it in the seventh.

With the victory, Nebraska (24-11) has now won four in a row after entering this week on a four-game losing streak. Senior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr improved to 11-5 on the season by tossing a complete game.

In a game where DeBuhr became just the fourth Husker pitcher to strike out 800 batters in a career, she showed why she is one of the most dominant strikeout pitchers in school history. DeBuhr struck out 16 in the contest, striking out the side in the second and sixth innings while recording at least two strikeouts in every inning.

DeBuhr established the tone early, retiring the side in order and recording seven strikeouts in the first three innings.

After the Huskers took a 1-0 lead on Waldecker's two-out, bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the third, Colorado State got to DeBuhr the second time through its order.

In the top of the fourth a leadoff walk and a single gave the Rams their first baserunners of the game. Both runners advanced a base on a passed ball, but DeBuhr quickly recorded two outs - including a pick-off of the runner at third - before Allison Majam's two-out double scored Ashley Munoz to tie the game at 1-1.

The Huskers nearly regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Meghan Mullin recorded her third hit of the game with a one-out single. She was then tagged out in a rundown between first and second before fellow sophomore Crystal Carwile drilled a double to the wall in right.

Colorado State then elected to intentionally walk sophomore Brittany Pascale for the second time in the game and Waldecker popped out one pitch later to end the inning.

Lauren Cusick then gave the Rams their first lead of the game by belting a one-out home run to left field in the top of the sixth.

The Huskers answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Senior Devin Porter led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice from freshman Alex Hupp and scored on an RBI single off the bat of sophomore Haley Long.

Offensively, the Huskers pounded out 10 hits, marking the first time they had reached double-figures in hits in 22 games. Mullin led the way with a 4-for-4 performance. Her four hits were not only a career high but were the most hits by a Husker this season and just one shy of the school record.

Pascale drew a career-high three walks - including two intentional walks - while Carwile finished 2-for-4.

Nebraska returns to Big 12 Conference action this weekend when the Huskers welcome Texas Tech to Lincoln. First pitch on Saturday is set for 2 p.m. and Sunday's game is scheduled to begin at Noon.

Box Score The Automated ScoreBook Colorado State at Nebraska (Game 2) Mar 28, 2007 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Colorado State 2 (21-18)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ CUSICK, Lauren 3b........ 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 MUNOZ, Ashley rf/lf...... 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 STRICKLAND, Jessica dp/p. 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 MAJAM, Allison lf/rf..... 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 PENLAND, Rebecca p/dp.... 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 3 KLOPPE, Julia 1b......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 5 1 0 KEOLA, Chelsey ph/rf.... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 LEIGH, Stacey c.......... 3 0 0 0 0 3 5 2 0 KREUTZMAN, Kayla cf...... 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 ROUTH, Melissa 2b........ 2 0 0 0 0 1 5 4 0 MASK, Robyn ss........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 Totals................... 24 2 3 2 2 16 19 13 3

Nebraska 3 (24-11)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Barrett, Whitney 2b...... 4 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 Mullin, Meghan rf........ 4 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 4 0 2 0 0 1 4 0 0 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 Waldecker, Jamie c....... 3 0 1 2 1 0 15 3 4 Porter, Devin ss......... 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 3 Hupp, Alex lf............ 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Long, Haley cf........... 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Gonzalez, Crystal pr/cf. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kier, Carmen 3b.......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 DeBuhr, Ashley p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 25 3 10 3 4 4 21 5 10

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Colorado State...... 000 101 0 - 2 3 0 Nebraska............ 001 001 1 - 3 10 1 -----------------------------------------

Note: 1 out, 2 runners LOB when the game ended.

E - Carwile(6). LOB - Rams 3; Cornhuskers 10. 2B - MAJAM, A.(10); Mullin(1); Carwile(8). HR - CUSICK, L.(4). HBP - Porter. SH - Pascale(2); Hupp(1). CS - Porter(2).

Colorado State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- PENLAND, Rebecca.... 5.1 7 2 2 4 4 20 26 94 STRICKLAND, Jessica. 1.0 3 1 1 0 0 5 6 22

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- DeBuhr, Ashley...... 7.0 3 2 1 2 16 24 26 108

Win - DeBuhr (11-5). Loss - STRICKLAND,J (6-6). Save - None. HBP - by PENLAND, R. (Porter). PB - Waldecker(1). Pitches/strikes: PENLAND, R. 94/55; STRICKLAND,J 22/14; DeBuhr 108/76. Umpires - HP: Kevin Killingsworth 1B: Mike D'Ercole 3B: Andy Hahn Start: 4:01 pm Time: 1:58 Attendance: 476 Game: NU35