Huskers Rally Past Cowgirls

Stillwater, Okla. - On a day when all the breaks seemed to go <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>OklahomaState's way, the 17th-ranked Nebraska softball team made its own breaks in scoring three runs in the sixth and seventh innings to overcome a 4-2 deficit and post its seventh straight victory with a 5-4 win over the Cowgirls on Sunday.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Freshman Crystal Carwile provided the game's final dramatics, when she belted her second home run of the day to center field with one out in the top of the seventh inning to cap Nebraska's comeback. The win was the first for Nebraska (27-6 overall, 5-2 Big 12) this season when trailing after four innings.

 

Carwile added a solo home run in the fourth inning for her second career multi-homer game. Her second home run was her 10th of the season and marked her fourth game-winning homer of the season. Carwile also became the first Husker to hit 10 or more home runs in a single season since current volunteer assistant coach Amanda Buchholz ripped 12 homers in 2003.

 

Carwile's first homer of the game came in the top of the fourth and gave Nebraska a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the frame. After getting their leadoff runner on in two of the first three innings but failing to score, the Cowgirls produced four runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth, including three bloop singles and a routine ground ball that found its way into left field. Nebraska also had two chances at outs when the ball beat the baserunner on two close plays, but the Huskers were unable to maintain possession of the ball in either instance.

 

OSU's Kim Kaye singled to lead off the inning and stole second when junior Devin Porter was unable to handle a low throw from junior catcher Jamie Waldecker. Shianne Cruce followed with another single to left when Porter moved over to sneak behind the runner at second.

 

Lauren Kitchens made the score 2-1 when she blooped a single to right that scored Kaye with OSU's first run of the series. Junior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr then relieved freshman starter Molly Hill with runners on second and third with no outs. DeBuhr recorded an out before pinch hitter Shallan Watson singled to score Kitchens with the tying run. OklahomaState still had runners at the corners with only one out and a sacrifice fly and another bloop single accounted for the Cowgirls' final two runs of the inning.

 

More hard luck went Nebraska's way in the top of the sixth when Carwile led off with a liner to left field that Kitchens appeared to trap, but was ruled a catch. The play loomed large after senior Trisha Tannahill singled and Porter drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. DeBuhr then made her own luck when she laced a 1-0 pitch off the wall in left for a game-tying, two-run double that scored Tannahill and Porter.

 

The Huskers then loaded the bases when senior pinch hitter Katie Linke was hit by a pitch and Aumua laced a line drive into right field that was hit too hard to score DeBuhr from second. With the bases loaded, freshman Brittany Pascale was called on to pinch hit for Yoachim. Pascale worked the count to 3-2 before being called out on strikes.

 

<?xml:namespace prefix="u1"?>Leaving the bases loaded would not matter after Carwile's blast propelled the Huskers to the victory. Carwile finished 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs in addition to the two home runs. DeBuhr, in addition to earning the win in the circle, finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. DeBuhr entered the game with just one RBI in her career. Porter also finished 2-for-3 with a double as Nebraska pounded out 11 hits.

 

Nebraska built its 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and fourth innings. NU took an early 1-0 lead with clutch two-out hitting in the top of the first. Waldecker reached on a two-out single before Carwile laced a double off the right field fence that scored Waldecker. On the day, three of the Huskers' five runs came with two outs.

 

Carwile's fourth-inning home run came on a 2-2 pitch from Hoppock to lead off the inning.

 

DeBuhr (14-5) earned the win for NU, allowing one run on three hits in four innings of relief. Hill tossed the first three innings, allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out four.

 

Jessica Hoppock (9-14) took the loss for the second straight day. She allowed five runs on 11 hits in a complete-game effort for OklahomaState, which dropped to 16-19 overall and 2-5 in the Big 12.

 

Head Coach Rhonda Revelle was pleased with the fight her team showed in the come-from-behind victory.

 

"We know that it's always difficult to play a team like we did on Saturday (a 10-0 Husker victory) and come back and play them again the next day," Revelle said. "We knew we were going to have a dog fight and we're really proud of the girls and the way they responded.

 

"Today's victory was a blue-collar win with a gold-medal fight. It was a total team victory. When our backs were against the wall, we didn't panic and we stayed together and we're really just excited to get it done. It was a very spirited victory."

 

Nebraska finished its three-game Big 12 road trip with a perfect 3-0 record. The Huskers now return home for a busy schedule this week. NU faces South DakotaState at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in the first of six straight home games in five days.