Texas Tech Athletics
Nebraska
Tech Takes 6-5 Win Over No. 17 Nebraska
March 31, 2001 | Softball
March 31, 2001
LINCOLN, Neb. - The Texas Tech Red Raiders used the long ball, belting three home runs, and held on to defeat 17th-ranked Nebraska 6-5 Saturday afternoon at the Husker Softball Complex.
The Red Raiders (24-13, 3-2 Big 12) got on the board in the top of the first after Sandy Butler doubled over the head of Nebraska left fielder Nicole Trimboli. Shauna Briggs was then hit by the pitch before Carmen Grindell launched a towering drive that just cleared the left field wall for a three-run homer and a 3-0 advantage for Tech.
Butler and Grindell combined for another run in the third, as Butler singled to right center with one out, stole second, and Grindell drove her home with a two-out single off the glove of a diving Tromboli, giving the Red Raiders a 4-0 lead.
Jana Baker gave Tech a 5-0 lead with a leadoff homer to center in the fourth, chasing Nebraska starter Leigh Ann Walker. Walker allowed five runs on five hits, two home runs, and struck out seven in three plus innings of work.
The Huskers (28-10, 4-1) brought in Peaches James to pitch, and Andrea Joachims greeted her with a blast over the right field wall for a 6-0 lead.
Nebraska got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single to left by Amanda Buchholz, scoring Jamie Fuente, who singled with one out to start the rally. A single to right by James plated two more runs, and a single to right by Cindy Roethemeyer scored James, cutting the Tech advantage to 6-4.
The Huskers got a leadoff single in the seventh from Leigh Suhr, who scored on a two-out single from Fuente. But Amanda Renfro struck out Burgess for the final out of the game, preserving the victory.
Renfro (21-11) allowed five runs on nine hits, striking out seven and picking up her first career victory over Nebraska. Walker (10-5) suffered the loss for the Huskers.
The Tech win ended a seven-game Nebraska winning streak in the series. It also ended Nebraska's 18-game winning streak this season, and NU's 29-game home winning streak dating back to 1999.
The two teams conclude the series Sunday with a noon contest. The Red Raiders host Oklahoma City University Tuesday at 2 & 4 p.m. at Rocky Johnson Field on the Tech campus.
