Huskers Complete Sweep of Drake

Lincoln - The Nebraska softball team scored four times in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally for a 7-4 win and complete a doubleheader sweep of the Drake Bulldogs on Wednesday at Bowlin Stadium.

With the win, Nebraska improved to 24-6 on the season. The Huskers, who have won 18 of their last 20 games, are just one win away from equaling last year's win total. Senior Crystal Carwile finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs to pace the Husker offense, as she drove in the winning run in the sixth inning. Sophomore Julie Brechtel added two RBIs as well, while seniors Meghan Mullin and Amanda Duran each added two hits.

In the circle, three Huskers saw action with junior right-hander Alex Hupp winning her second decision in two days. Hupp tossed a hitless final 3.0 innings to improve to 2-0 on the season. Freshman right-hander Ashley Hagemann earned the start and allowed four runs on four hits in 3.0 innings, while sophomore right-hander Tori Tyson did not allow a hit in her inning of work.

Jenna DeLong (9-6) took the loss for Drake, which fell to 18-14 on the season. DeLong allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits, but recorded eight strikeouts.

After falling behind early in game one, Nebraska jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game two with a pair of first-inning runs. Mullin coaxed a leadoff walk and the next two batters were retired but Mullin was able to move up to third. She scored the game's first run on an RBI single from Duran. Duran then scored when senior Brittany Pascale ripped a double to the left field wall.

Drake answered back in the top of the fourth. The first three hitters reached safely and an error following a single allowed the Bulldogs' first run to cross the plate. Erin Bly then cleared the bases with a three-run homer to right center that gave Drake a 4-2 lead and marked the end of the day for Hagemann, who had retired five straight entering the inning.

The Huskers cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Carwile led off with a single and Duran followed with another single to put runners at the corners with no outs. Brechtel scored freshman pinch-runner Nikki Haget with a one-out sacrifice fly, but NU would have to settle for only the one run.

In the decisive sixth inning, the Huskers loaded the bases with no outs. Sophomore pinch-hitter Kelli Linke then drew a bases-loaded walk to bring Hupp home with the tying run. Carwile followed with a two-run single to give Nebraska a 6-4 lead. Brechtel brought home the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly.

With the rally, the Huskers have now won four games when trailing after four innings of play, with all four victories coming in the last week.

Nebraska hosts its first Big 12 series at Bowlin Stadium this weekend, when the Huskers face the Oklahoma State Cowgirls.

Box Score 2009 Nebraska Softball Drake at Nebraska (Game 2) Mar 25, 2009 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Drake 4 (18-14)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Leon, Elena ss........... 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Shields, Bridget rf...... 2 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 Craddock, Torey 1b/dp.... 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Bly, Erin lf............. 3 1 2 3 0 0 1 0 0 DeLong, Jenna p.......... 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 McClelland, Molly dp/1b.. 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 Hatfield, Carrie 2b...... 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 Magaddino, Rose c........ 3 0 0 0 0 2 9 0 1 Kahler, Kelsey cf........ 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Osborn, Mandy 3b......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Totals................... 23 4 4 3 3 6 18 4 1

Nebraska 7 (24-6)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 2 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 2 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 1 Linke, Kelli ph......... 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 4 0 2 2 0 1 6 0 2 Haget, Nikki pr......... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Duran, Amanda c.......... 4 1 2 1 0 1 6 0 0 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 1 0 0 2 1 0 2 2 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 2 4 Gay, Jamie ph........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Tyson, Tori p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex ph/p......... 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 Long, Haley rf........... 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss/pr... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 Totals................... 27 7 8 7 5 8 21 6 9

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Drake............... 000 400 0 - 4 4 1 Nebraska............ 200 014 X - 7 8 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Leon, E(7); Rutherford(1). DP - Huskers 2. LOB - Bulldogs 1; Huskers 9. 2B - Leon, E(9); Pascale(2). HR - Bly, E(2). HBP - Brechtel. SF - Brechtel(1). SB - Mullin(13); Duran(3); Hupp(1); Long(5).

Drake IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- DeLong, Jenna....... 6.0 8 7 6 5 8 27 34 127

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 3.0 4 4 4 1 5 12 13 55 Tyson, Tori......... 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 11 Hupp, Alex.......... 3.0 0 0 0 1 1 9 10 46

Win - Hupp (2-0). Loss - DeLong, J (9-6). Save - None. WP - DeLong, J(7). HBP - by DeLong, J (Brechtel). Pitches/strikes: DeLong, J 127/79; Hagemann 55/36; Tyson 11/7; Hupp 46/26. Umpires - Start: 5:37 pm Time: 2:09 Attendance: 346 Hagemann faced 4 batters in the 4th. Game: NU30