Hupp Leads Huskers Past South Dakota State

Lincoln - Junior Alex Hupp tossed a one-hit shutout, homered and tallied a career-high four RBIs to lead the Husker softball team to a 8-0 five-inning victory over South Dakota State in game two of Tuesday's doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium.

Making her first start of the season in the circle, Hupp dominated South Dakota State. In five innings, Hupp (1-0) allowed only a single and a walk while striking out four. She needed only 53 pitches to earn her first decision of the year. A native of Olathe, Kan., Hupp was just as good at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and four RBIs. Her two-run walk-off homer in the fifth inning capped the run-rule victory and highlighted a game where she set a new career high in RBIs and tied her career highs in hits and runs.

Behind Hupp's outstanding performance, Nebraska completed the doubleheader sweep of the Jackrabbits and improved to 22-6 on the season. Pam Nicholson (3-6) allowed eight runs (five earned) on eight hits in a complete-game effort for SDSU (6-22).

Nebraska struck quickly for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Senior Crystal Carwile drove in the first run with an RBI double that scored fellow senior Darcy Rutherford. Senior Amanda Duran then singled to put runners at the corners before sophomore Julie Brechtel blooped an RBI single to center. Leading 2-0, the Huskers still had the bases loaded with only one out but were unable to add to the lead.

After the first two batters were retired in the bottom of the second, Rutherford started a two-out rally with a triple before Carwile brought her home with an RBI single.

The Huskers added three more runs in the third. Brechtel and fellow sophomore Kelli Linke walked before Hupp ripped a two-run double to left. On the play, the relay throw got away from South Dakota State, allowing Hupp to come all the way around to score and put NU in front 6-0.

Hupp then capped a terrific day by launching a two-run homer to right center two batters into the bottom of the fifth to wrap up the 8-0 win.

In addition to Hupp's big day offensively, Carwile finished 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, marking her second straight multi-hit and multi-RBI game.

Nebraska returns to action on Wednesday, when the Huskers host Drake for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

Box Score 2009 Nebraska Softball South Dakota State at Nebraska (Game 2) Mar 24, 2009 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

South Dakota State 0 (6-22)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Postma, Brittany cf...... 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 Postma, Brooke lf........ 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 Durazo, Ashley ss........ 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Broshar, Dani c.......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 Lunn, Kelsey 2b.......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Stroh, Greta rf.......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Nicholson, Pam p......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Higgerson, Krystal 3b.... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Evans, C. 1b............. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 15 0 1 0 1 4 12 0 2

Nebraska 8 (22-6)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 1 2 2 0 1 6 1 0 Duran, Amanda c.......... 2 0 1 0 1 1 4 1 1 Haget, Nikki pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 Gay, Jamie 3b........... 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 Linke, Kelli dp.......... 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex p............. 3 2 2 4 0 1 1 0 3 Long, Haley rf........... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss/pr... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Totals................... 22 8 8 7 3 5 15 7 6

Score by Innings R H E -------------------------------------- South Dakota State.. 000 00 - 0 1 3 Nebraska............ 213 02 - 8 8 1 --------------------------------------

E - Durazo(11); Lunn(10); Evans, C.; Foland(7). DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Jacks 2; Huskers 6. 2B - Carwile(6); Hupp(3). 3B - Rutherford(1). HR - Hupp(1). HBP - Foland. SH - Durazo(1). SB - Mullin(12).

South Dakota State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Nicholson, Pam...... 4.0 8 8 5 3 5 22 26 100

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hupp, Alex.......... 5.0 1 0 0 1 4 15 17 53

Win - Hupp (1-0). Loss - Nicholson (3-6). Save - None. HBP - by Nicholson (Foland). Pitches/strikes: Nicholson 100/52; Hupp 53/35. Umpires - HP: Jeff Sloan 1B: Matt Titkemier 3B: Greg Pohl Start: 4:50 pm Time: 1:17 Attendance: 236 Nicholson faced 2 batters in the 5th. Game: NU28