Huskers Look for Sweep of Cyclones in Ames

The Nebraska softball team will take its six-game winning streak on the road this Thursday when the Huskers look for a series sweep of the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames just two days after blanking ISU, 6-0, in Lincoln.

While NU has won six in a row, five of those victories have come within the friendly confines of Bowlin Stadium. The Huskers are just 3-6 away from home, including a 1-4 mark in Big 12 Conference action. A win would not only give Nebraska three road wins in its last five tries, but would go a long way toward evening the Huskers’ road record, which is notable considering that NU has posted a .500 or better road record in every season since 1995.

Although Nebraska has suffered six road losses this season, each of those defeats have come to teams currently ranked in the top 20 of the NFCA/USA Today Coaches poll. Each of Nebraska’s three road wins have also come against solid competition, with the Huskers posting victories at Wichita State, Kansas and Creighton, teams that have combined for an 80-51-1 record and a .610 winning percentage.

In fact, the total combined record of the Huskers’ six road opponents is an outstanding 193-54-1 for a remarkable winning percentage of .780. The Huskers will continue to face a difficult schedule, when they travel to Norman, Okla., for a two-game series with No. 4 Oklahoma. The Sooners - who will be Nebraska’s third top-10 road opponent in less than a month - boast a 43-5 record heading into a Wednesday doubleheader with league-leading Baylor.

Even though the Iowa State contest will mark Nebraska’s first road game against a sub-.500 team this season, that doesn’t mean it will be an easy game for the Huskers. NU has had a tough time winning at the Southwest Athletic Complex the past two seasons, as the Huskers earned a hard-fought eight-inning victory in 2005 before falling to the Cyclones, 6-5, last season.

Iowa State, who has been shutout in each of its five meetings with Nebraska away from Ames, has scored 11 runs in its last two home games against the Huskers.

While Nebraska hopes to avoid another upset loss to the Cyclones, the Huskers can take comfort in the fact that they have put together perhaps their best stretch of the season.

Fueling the good play has been the consistent work of the NU pitching staff combined with the emergence of the Husker offense.

While the pitching staff has allowed one earned run or less in 12 of the last 14 games, the offense has produced 20 runs on 31 hits over the last four contests after producing just six runs on 21 hits in its previous four games.

Senior Ashley DeBuhr was not only honored as the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week last week, but she also earned national honors.

Senior Jamie Waldecker has helped fuel the offense. In just her second full week back from a broken hand, Waldecker has begun to hit her stride. In her last four games, the two-time All-Big 12 selection is 7-for-12 with a home run and eight RBIs.

Behind her bat and stellar defense, the Huskers have won 13 of their last 15 contests. NU has been even better at home, tallying 11 consecutive victories. Overall, the Huskers are 16-2 at Bowlin Stadium this season.