Huskers Split Pair Against Ranked Teams

Tempe, Ariz. - The No. 8 Nebraska softball team split a pair of games against ranked competition Saturday at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament in Phoenix, Ariz. The Huskers blew past No. 21 Florida State 4-1 thanks to a three hitter from All-American Jenny Voss and dropped their first game of the season to host school and No. 18 Arizona State 8-1. The split moved Nebraska to 3-1 on the season which is the best start since 1996.

In the morning contest against the Seminoles, Nebraska did most of its damage in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, freshman Heather Martin slugged a ball deep to center field which FSU center fielder Dana Bailey misjudged allowing both Husker baserunners to score. The next batter, Kelly Pinkepank slapped a single to right which FSU again mishandled allowing Martin's pinch runner, Lisa Baker to score. Pinkepank, who advanced to third on the miscue later scored on an FSU passed ball making the score 4-0 NU. In the top of the second, Florida State took advantage of a couple of Husker miscues as well scoring a run but leaving the bases full to end the inning. Voss held FSU hitless until the fifth and ended the game by allowing just three hits and no earned runs to pick up her second win of the season. Only four Huskers collected hits in the game including Jennifer Lizama, Ellen Middleton, Martin and Pinkepank.

In the second game of the day it was the Arizona State Sun Devils who would get out of the gate quickly. After two straight walks by NU sophomore pitcher Lori Tschannen to open the game, ASU was able to move both runners around thanks to a single and a Husker error. Nebraska answered with a run of its own off of the bat of junior second baseman Lizama to make it a 1-2 game. ASU added additional runs in the second, third and fourth before Leigh Ann Walker relieved Tschannen in the sixth and gave up back-to-back homers in the seventh. Meanwhile, Nebraska managed just one hit in the final four innings to fall to the Sun Devils 8-1. ASU freshman pitcher Kirsten Voak struck out 12 Huskers while walking just one. Tschannen picked up the loss in the game and fell to 0-1. Nebraska's Ginger Taylor collected two of Nebraska's three hits and raised her season batting average to .600. Arizona State's Chris Gill hit a pair of home runs in the game.

Nebraska is scheduled to play Utah State at 9 a.m. (central) on Sunday to conclude the Fiesta Bowl Tournament.

NOTES:
-Sophomore first baseman Jamie Fuente fractured her right index finger on Friday in the first inning against Maryland and will not play during the remainder of the tournament. Her status beyond Sunday is unknown.

-Voss' complete game against Florida State was the 79th of her career which is just one complete game away from Lori Sippel's career record.

QUOTING RHONDA REVELLE:
-"In the first game we came out and attacked early on and that was key."
-"Voss threw a much better game than she did yesterday. She appeared to be in her rhythm quite a lot better."
-"Arizona State is a bonafied top-10 team this year. But that is where we should be as well."
-"We'll be okay if we continually make adjustments. We're a good team and so I'm not dissapointed."