Creighton University
Nebraska
Softball Comeback Eliminates Huskers, 2-1
5/19/2007 6:15:00 PM | Softball
Creighton (40-13-1) advances to tonight's elimination game against Georgia, with the winner needing to beat 11th-ranked and sixth-seeded Washington twice on Sunday to advance to the Super Regional round. Nebraska ends its season with a 37-20 record.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jessica German
ripped Nebraska senior hurler and Beatice, Neb., native Ashley DeBuhr's
first offering to right, but Haley Long came up with a spectacular
diving grab to prevent a sure extra-base hit. Renae Sinkler would then walk on four pitches and Kaycee Points, pinch-running for Sinkler, advanced to second on a passed ball. Pinch-hitter Mary Egan then struck out looking before fellow Beatrice native, Michelle Koch, was hit in the leg on an 0-2 pitch. Koch
and Points then both advanced into scoring position on the second
passed ball of the inning by NU senior catcher Jamie Waldecker.
Bluejay senior Jamie Reiss then smashed a single up the middle, glancing off of DeBuhr's glove, scoring Points with the game-tying run. Jessica Wakasugi,
who had saved an extra-base hit and run-scoring opportunity off the bat
of Haley Long with a diving catch in center field in the sixth inning,
then smacked a 1-1 offering off the glove NU senior third baseman
Carmen Kier to score Koch with the game-winning run on the error.
Nebraska scored its only run in the first inning, an unearned tally with two outs. After Bluejay starter Tara Oltman got two quick outs to open the game, she walked Waldecker. Waldecker moved up 60 feet to second after Koch bobbled Crystal Carwile's slow hopper at second base. Waldecker then scored on a single to left by Long.
Oltman moved to 26-8 with the victory. The
freshman, who was tabbed both the MVC Newcomer and Pitcher of the Year,
did not allow an earned run and just four singles, walking one and
striking out five to beat her fellow Beatrice native, DeBuhr in the
circle.
DeBuhr (18-11) struck out 13 batters, including five different innings with two or more strikeouts. She yielded just four hits and two walks while both Bluejay runs were unearned.
The Bluejays and Bulldogs will see first-pitch at 7:30 p.m., with the right to advance to Sunday's regional championship.
