Huskers Blow by Cyclones, 10-0

Ames, Iowa - Freshman Jamie Gay hit a three-run homer in the first inning and sophomore Julie Brechtel added a two-run shot in the second, as the Nebraska softball team scored seven runs over the first two frames before cruising to a 10-0 five-inning win over Iowa State on Tuesday at the Southwest Athletic Complex.

Gay's homer was the first of her career and capped a five-run first inning for Nebraska, in which all five runs scored with two outs. Brechtel then launched her fourth home run of the season two batters into the top of the second to give the Huskers their highest run total in Big 12 play this season. Brechtel added an RBI double in the fifth that gave Nebraska its 10th run of the game, marking the first time the Huskers had scored 10 runs in a conference game since scoring 10 in 10 innings at Texas Tech on April 23, 2006.

Brechtel highlighted the offensive performance by going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run and adding three RBIs and tying her career high with three runs scored. Senior Darcy Rutherford also scored three times as part of a 2-for-3 day, while senior Amanda Duran added two RBIs and Gay finished with a career-high three RBIs thanks to her home run.

In the circle, senior right-hander Molly Hill, who was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week just prior to first pitch, earned her fourth straight win to improve to 19-7 on the season. Hill allowed two hits in four innings of work, combining with freshman right-hander Ashley Hagemann on a two-hit shutout. Hagemann closed out the win by pitching a perfect fifth inning, striking out one.

With the win, Nebraska improved to 29-11 on the year and 6-5 in the Big 12 Conference. The Huskers have now won three straight and four of their last five conference games. Iowa State fell to 19-24 overall and 1-8 in the Big 12 with its seventh straight loss. Rachel Zabriskie (12-19) was charged with the loss, allowing seven runs (two earned) on five hits in 1.1 innings. Lauren Kennewell closed out the game allowing three runs (two earned) over the final 3.2 innings.

Nebraska batted around and plated five runs with two outs in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Duran laced a two-run double to right center that scored Rutherford and Brechtel. Senior Crystal Carwile followed with a walk to put runners at first and second for Gay. Gay then fouled off four 3-2 pitches before launching her three-run homer inside the foul pole down the left field line.

The Huskers added two more runs in the top of the second with another home run. This time it was Brechtel connecting on a long ball, as she scored Rutherford with a two-run opposite-field home run to left center.

NU pushed its lead to 9-0 with two more runs in the fourth. Rutherford coaxed a leadoff walk, Brechtel followed with a single and fellow sophomore Kelli Linke lined an RBI single into center. On Linke's single, the ball was misplayed in center field, allowing Brechtel to come around and score from first.

Brechtel then added a two-out, two-run double in the top of the fifth to score senior Meghan Mullin and close out the scoring.

The Huskers will look to win their second straight against the Cyclones on Thursday, when Nebraska hosts Iowa State at 5 p.m. at Bowlin Stadium.

Box Score 2009 Nebraska Softball Nebraska at Iowa State Apr 14, 2009 at Ames, Iowa (SW Athletic Complex)

Nebraska 10 (29-11,6-5 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullin, Meghan cf........ 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Rutherford, Darcy lf..... 3 3 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 4 3 3 3 0 0 1 0 0 Linke, Kelli dp.......... 3 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex pr/rf........ 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Duran, Amanda c.......... 2 1 1 2 1 0 4 0 0 Wright, Kirby c......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 1 1 1 0 1 0 7 0 0 Gay, Jamie 3b............ 3 1 1 3 0 0 0 1 2 Long, Haley rf........... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pascale, Brittany ph/dp. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 Hill, Molly p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Hagemann, Ashley p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 26 10 9 9 4 3 15 7 6

Iowa State 0 (19-24,1-8 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Lopez, Bianca cf......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Kidwell, Kelsey lf....... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wray, Courtney ss........ 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Harms, Katie 1b.......... 2 0 1 0 0 1 5 0 1 Varela, Dalyn 2b......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 Gilbert, Emily c......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 Beatty, Jacquelyn 3b..... 1 0 0 0 1 1 4 3 0 Cooper, Renae dp......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Kidwell, Heidi rf........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Zabriskie, Rachel p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Kennewell, Lauren p..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 17 0 2 0 1 5 15 7 4

Score by Innings R H E -------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 520 21 - 10 9 0 Iowa State.......... 000 00 - 0 2 3 --------------------------------------

E - Lopez; Wray; Harms. LOB - Huskers 6; Cyclones 4. 2B - Brechtel(6); Duran(7). HR - Brechtel(4); Gay(1). HBP - Carwile; Wray. SB - Rutherford(10); Brechtel(4).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hill, Molly......... 4.0 2 0 0 1 4 14 16 71 Hagemann, Ashley.... 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 3 3 12

Iowa State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Zabriskie, Rachel... 1.1 5 7 2 1 2 11 12 48 Kennewell, Lauren... 3.2 4 3 2 3 1 15 19 67

Win - Hill (19-7). Loss - Zabriskie (12-19). Save - None. HBP - by Hill (Wray); by Kennewell (Carwile). Pitches/strikes: Hill 71/47; Hagemann 12/8; Zabriskie 48/30; Kennewell 67/39. Umpires - HP: Jeff Sloan 1B: Jeff Brice 3B: Tom Topping Start: 3:32 pm Time: 1:48 Attendance: 194 Game: NU40