May 20, 2006
Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa -
A leadoff walk and a costly Illinois State error in the top of the sixth helped No. 14 Nebraska plate three runs, as the Huskers eliminated the Redbirds from the NCAA Tournament with a 3-1 victory. The `Birds complete their season with a 38-16 mark and their first NCAA appearance since 2001.
There wasn't much to talk about in Illinois State's game against Nebraska (44-11) until the bottom of the fourth. Tricia Gaither and Randi Patton hit back-to-back bunt singles to leadoff start the inning. Following a pair of Redbird strikeouts, Kelsey Warning hit a hard grounder to the left side. The Cornhuskers' third baseman made the snag but her throw to first pulled the first baseman off the bag, allowing Gaither to score from third as the `Birds took a one-run lead. Ashley DeBuhr (25-9), Nebraska's starter in the circle, retired the ensuing batter on strikes, leaving runners on the corners for Illinois State.
After the leadoff batter Koko Tacha reached on a walk in the top of the sixth, the following batter sacrificed her over to second with a bunt. Then Jessica Yoachim bunted a dribbler back to starting pitcher Shannon Nicholson (16-5), but she rushed the throw and it went well over first baseman Amber Smith's head allowing Nebraska to even things up at 1-1. Nicholson then intentionally walked Jamie Waldecker, who had the game-winning hit in a 1-0 10-inning thriller against Iowa on Friday. Trisha Tannahill came through with a one-out RBI single up the middle that allowed the Huskers to take the lead.
With Stacy Birk on in relief and runners on the corners, the following batter hit a hard grounder between first and second base. All first baseman Amber Smith could do was scoop it up and dash for first for the force out, as she had no play at the plate as another Nebraska runner had already crossed the plate to put the Huskers up, 3-1, which held up as the final margin.
Gaither and Patton's bunt singles were ISU's only hits in the game as DeBuhr kept the `Birds off-balance. She struck out 14 Redbird batters and allowed just one unearned run. Nicholson was saddled with the loss after having just one bad inning. She struck out four and walked three while surrendering just three hits.
