Huskers Sweep Doubleheader from UNO

Omaha ? The newcomers to the Nebraska softball team shined Wednesday in the first competition of the fall season, helping propel the Huskers to a doubleheader sweep of Nebraska-Omaha, 2-0 and 5-0.

 

Freshman Julianne Brechtel and Kelli Linke, along with junior Amanda Duran, a transfer from Pima (Ariz.) Community College, combined to produce all five of Nebraska’s RBIs on the night and 10 of the Huskers’ 17 hits.

 

Linke, the younger sister of former Husker Katie Linke, finished the first game 2-for-3 before going 2-for-4 with an RBI in the nightcap. Linke also recorded a double in both games, accounting for Nebraska's lone extra base hits of the night. Brechtel added a two-out RBI in each game, finishing 3-for-7, including a two-hit effort in game two.

 

Duran also added a pair of RBIs on the night, finishing 3-for-8. Freshman Abby Hughes also got in on the newcomer hit parade, as she finished 1-for-3. In all, a total of six newcomers hit a combined .355 (11-for-31).

 

Not to be outdone, Husker hurlers Molly Hill and Alex Hupp each tossed a shutout, with Hill winning game one and Hupp earning the victory in game two.

 

In game one, the Huskers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Brechtel stroked a two-out single to left field, scoring junior Darcy Rutherford from second base.

 

NU increased its lead to 2-0 in the fifth when Duran singled home Rutherford. The Huskers had an opportunity to add more with runners at the corners and no outs, but were unable to push another run across.

 

UNO threatened in the bottom of the sixth when the Mavs loaded the bases with two out, but Hill struck out Amanda Bader to end the threat.

 

Hill finished the shutout in the seventh by retiring three of the four batters she faced. On the game, Hill allowed seven hits and struck out eight. Offensively, the top five hitters in the NU order accounted for all seven of the Huskers’ hits, led by two apiece from Linke and Duran.

 

In game two, UNO loaded the bases with no outs in the first before Hupp coaxed a double-play ball and a groundout to keep the Mavs off the scoreboard. That would prove to be UNO's best threat as Hupp continually worked out of jams en route to her shutout, as the Mavs stranded 11 runners on the game.

 

Just as they did in game one, the Huskers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Brechtel singled home Rutherford with two outs.

 

The Mavericks had another bases-loaded chance with two outs in the bottom of the third before Hupp fanned Brianna Cataudella.

 

Nebraska made it 2-0 in the fifth when Duran brought Rutherford home from third with a two-out single up the middle. The Huskers added another run when Mullin scored from second on an infield single and an error.

 

NU extended the lead to 5-0 with a pair of runs in the seventh inning on an error and an RBI double from Linke.

 

Omaha native junior Darcy Rutherford excelled in the leadoff role for the Huskers, scoring four times in the two games while finishing with a pair of singles. Fellow junior Meghan Mullin capped an excellent performance from the top five hitters in the lineup by finishing 3-for-6 with a pair of sacrifices and a stolen base.

 

The Huskers continue their 10-game fall schedule this weekend with a trip to Notre Dame where NU will play two games on both Saturday and Sunday.