Huskers Complete Sweep at Shocker Invitational

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Wichita, Kan. - Senior right-hander Ashley DeBuhr was dominant in the circle and sophomore Crystal Carwile tallied three RBIs at the plate, as the Nebraska softball team wrapped up an unbeaten weekend in Wichita with a 4-1 victory against Wichita State on Sunday.

<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

With the win, Nebraska (15-7) earned its seventh consecutive victory and was crowned champion of the Shocker Invitational with a perfect 5-0 record.

 

"It was a good weekend in that we did a lot of things to win ball games," Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "We pitched well, we played well defensively and we had a lot of key hits. It was a good, balanced weekend of softball.

 

"I felt like we finally got into a rhythm both offensively and defense and put our game together."

 

DeBuhr (8-3) was on her game in the circle, tossing a two-hitter and striking out 13. Katie McGeeney was the only hitter to stand between DeBuhr and a perfect game, as the WichitaState leadoff hitter recorded both of the Shockers' two hits and drew their lone walk as no other player reached base against DeBuhr.

 

For her efforts on the weekend, DeBuhr was named the 2007 Shocker Invitational Most Valuable Player.

 

Offensively for NU, Carwile went 2-for-3 with a season-high three RBIs. Her first-inning home run proved to be the difference and was also her first of the season. Senior Devin Porter went 2-for-3 with an RBI of her own as Porter and Carwile - the Huskers' No. 3 and 4 hitters - went a combined 4-for-6 and produced all four RBIs.

 

Margo Pruis (5-7) took the loss for Wichita State (11-17), allowing four runs on four hits in 5.2 innings.

 

The early switch to daylight savings time did nothing to slow the Huskers, as NU jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on the strength of a two-out, two-run home run off the bat of Carwile.

 

Wichita State answered in the back in the bottom of the inning when McGeeney sent an 0-2 pitch to left center that drifted over the fence for a leadoff home run.

 

Carwile nearly gave NU a 4-1 lead in the third, but her towering shot down the right field line drifted just a few feet foul.

 

Nebraska added to its lead in the top of the sixth. Freshman Crystal Gonzalez led off with a slap single down the left field line, stole second and scored on a hard-hit, two-out single off the bat of Porter. Porter then scored on a single from Carwile to put NU ahead 4-0.

 

Porter and Carwile joined DeBuhr and fellow right-hander Molly Hill on the all-tournament team.

 

Nebraska returns to action next weekend when the Huskers host the Big Red Tournament at Bowlin Stadium, March 16-18.

Box Score The Automated ScoreBook Nebraska at Wichita State Mar 11, 2007 at Wichita, Kan. (Wilkins Stadium)

Nebraska 4 (15-7)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Mullin, Meghan rf........ 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Porter, Devin ss......... 3 1 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 1 2 3 0 0 5 0 0 Pascale, Brittany c...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 12 2 1 DeBuhr, Ashley p......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex dp............ 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Fuller, Kimberly 2b...... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Barrett, Whitney ph..... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Gonzalez, Crystal cf..... 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 Kier, Carmen 3b.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 24 4 5 4 1 6 21 4 2

Wichita State 1 (11-17)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ McGeeney, Katie lf....... 2 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 Jones, Lisa 1b........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 L'Huillier, Kara ph/2b.. 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Barnett, Britnee ss...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 1 Verhulst, Cynthia dp..... 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 DeLaRiva, Stephanie 3b... 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 Bright, Ashly p/1b....... 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 Dahlquist, Tiffany c..... 2 0 0 0 0 2 6 1 0 Mitts, Lindsie cf........ 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Zeches, Elissa rf........ 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Usher, Brooke 2b......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 1 Pruis, Margo p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 Totals................... 23 1 2 1 1 13 21 8 2

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 200 002 0 - 4 5 0 Wichita State....... 100 000 0 - 1 2 0 -----------------------------------------

LOB - Cornhuskers 2; Shockers 2. 2B - McGeeney(5). HR - Carwile(1); McGeeney(1). HBP - Rutherford. SH - Mullin(6). SB - Gonzalez(4). CS - Carwile(1).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- DeBuhr, Ashley...... 7.0 2 1 1 1 13 23 24 111

Wichita State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Bright, Ashly....... 1.1 1 0 0 1 2 5 6 27 Pruis, Margo........ 5.2 4 4 4 0 4 19 21 93

Win - DeBuhr (8-3). Loss - Pruis (5-7). Save - None. HBP - by Pruis (Rutherford). Pitches/strikes: DeBuhr 111/74; Bright 27/16; Pruis 93/63. Umpires - HP: Robert Blatcher 1B: Rick Boyer 3B: Terry Holt Start: 9:58 am Time: 1:52 Attendance: Game: NU22