Huskers Wrap Up Home Slate This Weekend

Despite holding a lead in each of its last three contests, the Nebraska softball team will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak this weekend when the Huskers wrap up their regular-season home schedule with a pair of crucial league games against Oklahoma State at Bowlin Stadium.

First pitch for Saturday’s opener is set for 2 p.m. The Huskers, who are 16-3 at home this season, will then honor their five seniors prior to Sunday’s 1 p.m. home finale.

For the third time this season the Huskers will be looking to snap a losing streak of at least three games this weekend. The good news for NU is that Nebraska has not lost more than four games in a row since the opening weekend of the 2000 season.

Another fact that bodes well for the Big Red is that the previous two times this year Nebraska had lost three consecutive games, it quickly responded with four- and seven-game win streaks. The only time the Huskers suffered a four-game losing streak, they answered back with a seven-game win streak.

A pair of victories this weekend would also guarantee Nebraska at least a .500 finish in a tough Big 12 Conference that features five ranked teams, including three top-10 squads. The Huskers are currently 7-7 in the league after entering last weekend with a 7-4 mark.

Despite the recent setbacks, Nebraska has been in the thick of each game. The Huskers have led in each of their last 10 games dating back to the second of two straight 1-0 losses at then-No. 4 Texas A&M. In fact, NU has led in its last 17 games when it has scored at least one run and had won 14 of those games in a row before giving up the lead three times within the last week.

Nebraska dropped a pair of contests at then-No. 4 Oklahoma last weekend, losing leads of 2-1, 7-5 and 9-6. The Sooners saved their best for last, as they scored four runs in their last at bat, including the game-tying and game-winning runs with two outs, to hand NU its first loss in 106 games when leading after six innings.

The Huskers then jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in game two, before an error and a failure to record an out on a sacrifice bunt led to four unearned runs for Oklahoma in a 5-1 loss.

Unfortunately for NU, a similar scenario cost them again on Thursday against Kansas. The Huskers again jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead against the Jayhawks, before another failure to record an out on a sacrifice bunt and an error resulted in a decisive four-run inning for KU in a 5-3 loss.

In its current three-game losing streak, Nebraska has allowed seven unearned while also surrendering 15 two-out runs, including the eventual tying and go-ahead runs in each of the losses.

Even with the three straight losses, Nebraska has won 14 of its last 19 games, a stretch which includes six games against top-15 opponents.

Scouting the Oklahoma State Cowgirls
Oklahoma State is 25-28 on the season and 3-11 in the Big 12 Conference after losing a 2-1 decision to fourth-ranked Oklahoma on Wednesday. The Cowgirls have lost nine of their last 10, but they have faced stiff competition, playing seven straight games against top-15 opponents.

Offensively, OSU boasts a nice combination of power and speed, as the Cowgirls have slugged 34 home runs while stealing 90 bases. Courtney Totte leads the way with a .414 average that includes 16 doubles, 13 home runs and 67 RBIs for a whopping .789 slugging percentage. Shanel Scott provides the speed, as she is hitting .387 while swiping 46 bases - one fewer than the entire Nebraska team.

In the circle, the Cowgirls have struggled, surrendering 51 home runs while posting a 3.80 ERA. Jessica Hoppock has been OSU’s ace, compiling a 13-15 record with a 3.26 ERA in 169.2 innings. Opponents are hitting just .236 against her, but have drawn 72 walks and homered 25 times. Anna Whiddon (10-9, 3.41 ERA, 113.0 IP) has also seen extensive action for OSU.

A Look at the Series History
Oklahoma State leads the all-time series with Nebraska, 41-39, although the Huskers have won three straight against the Cowgirls and six of the last seven meetings. NU won all three meetings last season, but the last time OSU came to Lincoln, the Cowgirls defeated the Huskers, 2-0, in Nebraska’s regular-season home finale in 2005 behind a no-hitter from Marjorie Johnson.

Last season, the Huskers cruised to a 10-0 six-inning victory as Ashley DeBuhr tossed a two-hit shutout and Nebraska pounded out 12 hits, including five extra-base hits. Devin Porter led the way with a pair of home runs en route to finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Lizzy Aumua was 4-for-4 with a triple, while Trisha Tannahill was 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs.

In game two, Oklahoma State erased a 2-0 deficit with a four-run fourth inning before Nebraska scored three runs in the final two innings to earn a 5-4 victory. The Huskers again pounded the ball, recording five extra-base hits including a two home run game from Crystal Carwile. Carwile finished 3-for-4 with the two homers and a double, while adding three RBIs. She broke a 4-4 tie with a one-out solo homer in the top of the seventh.

Ashley DeBuhr earned the win in relief and went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs at the plate.

OSU and NU met again in the Big 12 Championship and it was a pitcher’s duel this time as Jessica Yoachim’s bases-loaded single in the eighth inning lifted Nebraska to a 1-0 win. DeBuhr tossed a two-hit shutout. In three games (two starts) against Oklahoma State last season, DeBuhr allowed just one run in 18 innings.

Seniors Bid Adieu to Bowlin Stadium
The 2007 senior class of Jaime Borg, Ashley DeBuhr, Carmen Kier, Devin Porter and Jamie Waldecker will be honored on Sunday before playing what could be their last home game at Bowlin Stadium. Together, the class has posted three consecutive top-25 finishes, made three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, won two Big 12 Conference titles, produced a total of five All-Big 12 awards, compiled a 157-68 overall record, a 43-23 Big 12 record and won 61 home games, the highest four-year total in Nebraska history.

Walk This Way
Although Nebraska struggled with the bat against Kansas on Thursday - the Huskers went 6.2 innings without a hit before recording three straight two-out singles - the Huskers showed great patience at the plate, drawing a season-high eight walks.

Prior to the eight walks, NU had not drawn more than three walks in its last 14 games and had not posted more than five walks all season.