Cyclones Fall To Nebraska, 3-1

AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State put the go-ahead run on base in the seventh inning but Nebraska reliever Ashley DeBuhr was able to complete the save as the Huskers defeated the Cyclones, 3-1, in Big 12 softball action at the Southwest Athletics Complex on Thursday afternoon.

The Huskers (34-13, 7-4 Big 12) scored three runs in the second inning but Cyclone pitcher Alyssa Ransom was able to settle in and keep Nebraska off the board the rest of the game. Ransom (10-14) retired 11 straight hitters in the middle portion of the game to keep the Cyclones within striking distance.

The Cyclones (22-33, 1-9 Big 12), however, were unable to solve the Nebraska pitching despite threatening numerous times throughout the game.

Nebraska starter Molly Hill (15-7) got the win, allowing one run on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. DeBuhr recorded the final two outs of the game to earn her third save of the season.

Devin Porter got Nebraska on the board with a leadoff homer to left field in second inning. The Huskers tacked on two more runs in the inning on an error on a steal attempt and a RBI double from Darcy Rutherford to make it 3-0.

Ransom allowed just a third inning double to Crystal Carwile over the next four innings and Iowa State cut into the lead in the sixth on a double by Alex Johnson that plated Fallon Johnson, who broke up Hill's no-hitter with one-out in the sixth.

After Ransom got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh, ISU loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning.

Ashley Killeen drew her second walk of the game to lead off the inning and Courtney Wray reached on an infield single to put runners on first and second with no outs. Kristen Karanzias then grounded out to second, advancing Killeen and Wray to second and third with one-out. DeBuhr entered the game and got Jessica Quade to strike out swinging. Pinch hitter Katherine Cross then walked to load the bases before Fallon Johnson fouled out to end the game.

Alex Johnson's double in the sixth inning was her 11^th of the season, moving her within one of the ISU freshman record set by Kris McMaster in 1991. The RBI was her 23^rd of the season.

Fallon Johnson extended her hitting streak to four games with her sixth inning single.

Brittany Pascale finished the game 2-for-3 to lead the Huskers, who had six hits in the game. Porter's second inning blast was her third of the season.

The Cyclones will be back in action this weekend as they play host to 10^th-ranked Baylor. Saturday's game is slated to start at 2 p.m. with Sunday's game to begin at noon.

Nebraska 3, Iowa State 1 (Apr 19, 2007 at Ames, Iowa)
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Nebraska............ 030 000 0 - 3 6 0 (34-13, 7-4 Big 12)
Iowa State.......... 000 001 0 - 1 3 1 (22-33, 1-9 Big 12)
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Pitchers: Nebraska - Hill, Molly; DeBuhr, Ashley(7). Iowa State - Ransom, Alyssa.
Win-Hill, Molly(15-7) Save-DeBuhr, Ashley(3) Loss-Ransom, Alyssa(10-14) T-2:00 A-247
HR NU - Porter, Devin (3). 2B NU ? Carwile, Crystal (11), Rutherford, Darcy (2); ISU ? Johnson, Alex (11).

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Players Mentioned

Katherine Cross

Katherine Cross

Alex Johnson

Fallon Johnson

Fallon Johnson

Kristen Karanzias

Kristen Karanzias

Ashley Killeen

Ashley Killeen

Jessica Quade

Jessica Quade

Alyssa Ransom

Alyssa Ransom

Courtney Wray

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