Key Hits Lead Tigers Past Nebraska

Columbia, Mo. - Timely hitting lifted the 25th-ranked Missouri softball team past Nebraska, 5-0, on a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon at University Field in Columbia, Mo.

Missouri (37-20, 13-3 Big 12) made the most of its opportunities, scoring one run on a bases-loaded hit batter and the other four on a pair of two-run homers while handing Nebraska (36-17, 9-8) its most lopsided loss of the year. The Huskers were unable to convert any of their scoring chances, despite having their leadoff runner on in four of the seven innings and only being out-hit, 7-5.

Nebraska stranded seven runners in the game while finishing 1-for-14 with runners on base.

The Tigers, meanwhile, took control of the game with clutch hitting that led to their first three runs all scoring with two outs. Two-out runs have hurt the Huskers over the past few weeks, especially on the road. In its last four losses, including Saturday, Nebraska has surrendered 23 runs and 15 of those have come with two outs.

The Huskers have dropped seven road contests in Big 12 Conference play - all to top-25 teams and six to top-10 foes - and in those games, 17 of the opponents' 28 runs have scored with two outs.

Missouri used its first two-out rally to plate the game's initial run in the bottom of the second. After the first two hitters were retired on just four pitches, a pair of walks and an infield single loaded the bases for Allison Kennewell, the Tigers' No. 9 hitter. Kennewell fouled off five pitches and worked the count to 3-2 before being hit by a pitch to bring Andee Allen home from third base.

Nebraska got its first two runners on base for the top of the order in the third inning and had runners at second and third with only one out before a pair of ground outs ended perhaps the Huskers' best threat.

MU added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth when Kathy Masterson belted a two-out, two-run home run to right center to put the Tigers in front 3-0.

The Tigers then closed the scoring on a second two-run homer off the bat of Kathy Masterson in the bottom of the sixth.

Nebraska again had two runners on with only one out in the bottom of the seventh before a strikeout and a pop out wrapped up the victory for Mizzou. 

The bottom of the Nebraska order produced four of the Huskers' five hits on the day. Freshman Whitney Barrett was 2-for-3 while extending her career-best hit streak to three games. Senior Carmen Kier was also 2-for-3, while sophomore Crystal Carwile saw her career-high hit streak snapped at seven.

Senior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr (18-9) took the loss for Nebraska, allowing five runs on seven hits in six innings of work. DeBuhr also walked four while managing only three strikeouts, her season low.

Nebraska closes the 2007 regular season on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Tigers, who need only a win to clinch at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title. The Huskers then leave on Wednesday for the Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Box Score Nebraska Softball Nebraska at #25 Missouri May 05, 2007 at Columbia, Mo. (University Field)

Nebraska 0 (36-17,9-8 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Long, Haley rf........... 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 Mullin, Meghan cf........ 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Porter, Devin ss......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 2 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 1 Waldecker, Jamie c....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney 2b...... 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 Kier, Carmen 3b.......... 3 0 2 0 0 1 1 2 0 Hupp, Alex lf............ 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 DeBuhr, Ashley p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Totals................... 25 0 5 0 2 4 18 5 7

Missouri 5 (37-20,13-3 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Leanne Bowers cf......... 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3 Julie Silver rf.......... 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 Amanda Renth 1b.......... 2 0 0 0 1 0 10 1 0 Michaele Vock pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Micaela Minner lf........ 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sarah Stringer 2b........ 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 2 0 A.J. White 3b........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Andee Allen ss/2b........ 2 2 2 0 1 0 3 6 0 Jen Bruck p/dp........... 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 Kathy Masterson c........ 3 1 2 2 0 0 4 0 0 Allison Kennewell 3b/ss.. 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 Sara Simons ph.......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alana Jacobson dp........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jana Hainey p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 24 5 7 5 4 3 21 12 6

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 000 0 - 0 5 1 Missouri............ 010 202 X - 5 7 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Kier(12). DP - Cornhuskers 1. LOB - Cornhuskers 7; Tigers 6. 2B - Allen(8). HR - Stringer(4); Masterson(3). HBP - Kennewell. SH - Mullin(18). SB - Long(5).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- DeBuhr, Ashley...... 6.0 7 5 5 4 3 24 29 106

Missouri IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Jen Bruck........... 5.0 2 0 0 2 2 16 19 68 Jana Hainey......... 2.0 3 0 0 0 2 9 9 34

Win - Bruck (18-6). Loss - DeBuhr (18-9). Save - Hainey (3). WP - DeBuhr(8). HBP - by DeBuhr (Kennewell). BK - DeBuhr(3). Pitches/strikes: DeBuhr 106/67; Bruck 68/42; Hainey 34/27. Umpires - HP: John Or 1B: Bart Hadley 3B: Greg Pohl Start: 2:02 pm Time: 1:46 Attendance: 827 Game: NU53