Unearned Runs Lead Jayhawks Past Huskers

Lincoln - A fielder's choice where no out was recorded and an error led to a four-run sixth inning for the Kansas softball team, which erased a 1-0 deficit to post a 5-3 victory over Nebraska in a Thursday afternoon make-up game at Bowlin Stadium.

The game was a pitcher's duel early, as senior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, while KU starter Kassie Humphreys was one out away from tossing her second no-hitter against the Huskers in her last three starts.

Humphreys (16-10) tossed a no-hitter against the Huskers in Lawrence last season, but was on the losing end of a 2-0 decision. On Thursday, she did not allow a hit through 6.2 innings before Nebraska used a two-out rally to put the tying run on base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

She finished a complete-game effort allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits. Humphreys was also able to work around eight walks and a pair of Jayhawk errors, as Nebraska stranded eight runners on base.

DeBuhr had a no-hitter going herself through 5.1 innings. In fact, the senior right-hander had retired 15 Jayhawks in a row before four consecutive batters reached base against her.

With one out, Dougie McCaulley singled to center and the next batter laid down a bunt and NU threw late to second in an attempt to get McCaulley. That extra out loomed large as following a walk to load the bases, Stevie Crisosto hit a routine grounder to second that tied the game.

NU sophomore first baseman Crystal Carwile was unable to handle the throw to allow Crisosto to reach. After having a chance to end the inning without any runs scoring, KU added a sacrifice fly and a two-run double from Humphreys to take a 4-1 lead.

The three unearned runs would prove to be the difference as the Jayhawks added a run off sophomore right-hander Molly Hill in the top of the seventh before the Huskers made things interesting in their last at bat.

After a pair of quick outs, freshman Whitney Barrett walked before sophomore Meghan Mullin recorded Nebraska's first hit. Senior Devin Porter followed with another single to load the bases for Carwile, who promptly delivered a two-run single to cut the lead to 5-3.

Senior Jamie Waldecker then stepped up to the plate as the winning run before striking out swinging on a 2-2 pitch with the tying runs at first and third.

Carwile had a solid day at the plate, finishing 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs and two walks. Barrett and Mullin also coaxed two walks each as the Huskers drew a season-high eight walks as a team.

Nebraska (34-16, 7-7 Big 12) wraps up its regular-season home schedule this weekend when the Huskers face Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. on Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Box Score Nebraska Softball Kansas at Nebraska Apr 26, 2007 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Kansas 5 (30-18-1,6-8 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ McCaulley, Dougie cf..... 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Washburn, Nicole 1b...... 2 0 1 1 1 0 11 0 0 Simington, Erika pr..... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jobe, Amanda rf.......... 2 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 Wilson, Betsy lf........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Crisosto, Stevie ss...... 4 1 0 1 0 1 3 2 2 Pottorf, Elle dp......... 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 Humphreys, Kassie p...... 3 0 1 2 0 1 0 4 0 Lubken, Tracy pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ramirez, Sara 2b......... 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 1 0 Chapple, Val 3b.......... 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Stanton, Ally lf/rf...... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Craner, Tiffany c........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 Totals................... 25 5 6 5 3 7 21 10 5

Nebraska 3 (34-16,7-7 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Barrett, Whitney 2b...... 2 1 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 2 1 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 Porter, Devin ss......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 2 0 1 2 2 0 5 0 2 Waldecker, Jamie c....... 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 3 4 Borg, Jaime pr.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Long, Haley rf........... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex lf............ 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 Kier, Carmen 3b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 DeBuhr, Ashley p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Hill, Molly p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 23 3 3 2 8 4 21 8 8

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Kansas.............. 000 004 1 - 5 6 2 Nebraska............ 010 000 2 - 3 3 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Ramirez 2(13); Carwile(8). DP - Jayhawks 2. LOB - Jayhawks 5; Cornhuskers 8. SH - Washburn(6); Stanton(4); Porter(11). SF - Pottorf(3). CS - Borg.

Kansas IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Humphreys, Kassie... 7.0 3 3 2 8 4 23 32 130

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- DeBuhr, Ashley...... 6.0 3 4 1 3 7 20 25 117 Hill, Molly......... 1.0 3 1 1 0 0 5 6 19

Win - Humphreys (16-10). Loss - DeBuhr (17-8). Save - None. PB - Craner(5). Pitches/strikes: Humphreys 130/71; DeBuhr 117/76; Hill 19/13. Umpires - HP: Mike D'Ercole 1B: Andy Hahn 3B: Renee Williams Start: 1:32 pm Time: 2:14 Attendance: 256 Game: NU50