LIZAMA SLUGS WAY TO SPLIT AGAINST RANKED TEAMS

Columbus, Ga. --- Junior All-American Jennifer Lizama proved her worth to the No. 8 Nebraska softball team (6-1) both offensively and defensively in the first day of competition at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. Lizama slugged solo homers twice Friday to help Nebraska to a split against a pair of ranked teams. Nebraska beat No. 21 Florida State 1-0 and fell to No. 11 (tie) DePaul 4-1. Lizama also helped the Huskers defensively by switching from second base to shortstop following Leigh Suhr's Wednesday hip injury which sidelined her for the duration of the tournament. The split moved Nebraska to 5-2 on the year and 1-1 in Leadoff Classic pool play.

Against Florida State true freshman Leigh Ann Walker, who made her second career start, struck out 15 Seminoles in seven innings in her first career win. The 15 strikeouts are believed to be the most in a seven-inning game since 1988 when Lori Sippel posted numerous double-figure strikeout games. The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning when Lizama connected on a fastball from FSU pitcher Leslie Malerich and sent it well over the left center field fence to put the Huskers up 1-0. Walker took a no-hitter into the sixth inning when Dana Bailey slapped a singled to left center. Walker struck out the side in the seventh to pickup her first collegiate win. Both Ellen Middleton and Alice Brewer went 2-for-3 in the win.

Mirroring the first game, the second game of the day went scoreless during the first couple of innings. Lizama put the first run on the board in the third with her shot to left field. DePaul tied the game up in the fifth when Dana Jakusz, who reached on an error, stole second, allowing Molly Sircher to steal home from third. But the backbreaker for the Huskers occurred in the sixth when shortstop Karen Stewart homered down the left line with runners on the corners. The three-run shot put DePaul up for good 4-1. The loss was the first of the year for Voss, who moved to 3-1. The complete game was Voss' 81st of her career, breaking Lori Sippel's decade-old record of 80. Lizama was 2-for-3 in the game. Jamie Fuente added the only other hit of the game for the Huskers. The Big 12 Conference - represented by Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri and Nebraska - posted a 6-2 record on the first day of competition at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

Nebraska will be back in action on Saturday morning with its final pool-play game when it takes on Colorado State at 10 a.m. (EST). All pool play concludes at 3 p.m. (EST) when tournament play begins.

NOTES
-Nebraska is now 2-2 against ranked teams

-Jennifer Lizama's two home runs moved her into fifth place on the career home run charts with 21, eclipsing Tobin Echo-Hawk's 20 round trippers.

-Kelly Pinkepank collected her 28th career double to move into a tie for sixth on the career chart.

-The official first day attendance was 2,473.