Huskers Fall to No. 7 Alabama

Columbus, Ga. - A pair of two-out home runs helped power seventh-ranked Alabama to an 11-3 six-inning victory over the Nebraska softball team on Saturday in the Huskers' first game of the day at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

Alabama stretched a 1-0 lead to 3-0 with a two-out, two-run homer in the second inning and after the Huskers had pulled within 5-3 with a two-run fourth inning, the Crimson Tide responded with a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the frame to put the game away. The Tide tacked on three runs over the final two innings to close out the win in six innings.

Alabama (12-2), which hit four home runs in a 10-6 win over fourth-ranked Michigan immediately before playing Nebraska, won for the 11th straight time. The Tide started All-American Kelsi Dunne, but she lasted only 3.2 innings against the Huskers. Amanda Locke (2-0) earned the win, tossing 2.1 innings of hitless relief.

Sophomore Ashley Hagemann (2-4) took the loss for Nebraska. Hagemann went 3.2 innings and allowed eight runs on eight hits, including five runs on a pair of home runs. Senior right-hander Alex Hupp relieved Hagemann in the fourth inning and gave up three runs (two earned) on only two hits in 2.0 innings. Alabama scored its 11 runs on only 10 hits, while Nebraska left seven runners on base.

After scoring eight runs in its final at bat against No. 4 Michigan, Alabama continued its hot hitting while scoring three runs in the first two innings. In the bottom of the first, Kayla Braud led off with a perfectly-placed bunt single and stole second on the next pitch. She came home with the game's first run on a one-out RBI single from All-American Charlotte Morgan. Then in the second, Jennifer Fenton lifted a two-out, two-run home run to left center to give the Tide a 3-0 lead.

The Huskers cut into the lead with a run in the top of the third. Junior Heidi Foland reached on a one-out double and scored on a two-out, RBI single from sophomore Ashley Guile.

The Tide answered back with two more runs in the bottom of the frame. Alabama had only one hit in the inning, but it was a two-run triple after Hagemann had walked back-to-back hitters.

Trailing 5-1, Nebraska scored twice in the top of the fourth and had a chance to tie the game. Junior Julie Brechtel was hit by a pitch to start the inning and freshman Brooke Thomason doubled to right center with one out to put runners on first and second. After a pop out, senior Whitney Barrett won a great at bat with a walk to load the bases for Foland.

Foland hit a hard shot to the second baseman for an infield RBI single that scored Brechtel. On the play, a throwing error allowed Thomason to score as well. Trailing 5-3, Nebraska had runners at second and third before a strike out prevented further damage.

But once again Alabama answered with another home run. This time it was Morgan doing the damage, as she belted a two-out, 2-2 pitch to right for a three-run homer to increase the lead to 8-3.

The Tide made it 9-3 in the fifth with a one-out solo home run from Locke.

A two-out RBI single and a passed ball accounted for the final two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Foland led Nebraska offensively with a 2-for-4 day with a run and an RBI, while Guile also produced an RBI as part of a 1-for-2 day.

The Huskers (8-6) wrap up Saturday play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic against Central Florida.

Box Score 2010 Nebraska Softball Nebraska vs #7 Alabama Feb 27, 2010 at Columbus, Ga. (South Commons Cmplx)

Nebraska 3 (8-6)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Foland, Heidi 1b......... 4 1 2 1 0 1 7 2 2 Haget, Nikki lf.......... 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 Guile, Ashley c.......... 2 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 Mackin, Robin dp......... 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 1 0 0 0 0 4 2 2 Scott, Keela 2b......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 Thomason, Brooke cf/rf... 3 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 Tyson, Tori rf/cf........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Wright, Kirby ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 23 3 5 2 2 7 17 9 7

Alabama 11 (12-2)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Braud, Kayla 2b.......... 2 3 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 Reilly-Boccia, Cass. rf.. 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Davis, Keima ph......... 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Morgan, Charlotte dp/1b.. 3 1 2 4 1 0 3 0 0 Elizondo, Lisa pr....... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Larsen, Whitney ss....... 3 1 1 1 1 0 2 2 0 Lunceford, Jazlyn lf..... 3 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 Locke, Amanda 1b/p....... 3 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 Conley, Courtney 3b...... 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 Smith, Jessica ph....... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Gibson, Olivia c......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 0 Fenton, Jennifer cf...... 3 2 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 Dunne, Kelsi p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Sewell, Lauren p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 25 11 10 10 5 3 18 3 3

Score by Innings R H E --------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 001 200 - 3 5 0 Alabama............. 122 312 - 11 10 2 ---------------------------------------

Note: 2 outs, 1 runner LOB when the game ended.

E - Conley; Gibson. LOB - Huskers 7; Crimson Tide 3. 2B - Foland; Thomason; Locke. 3B - Lunceford. HR - Morgan; Locke; Fenton. HBP - Guile; Brechtel; Tyson. SH - Conley. SB - Braud 2; Elizondo; Larsen.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 3.2 8 8 8 3 2 17 21 90 Hupp, Alex.......... 2.0 2 3 2 2 1 8 10 44

Alabama IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Dunne, Kelsi........ 3.1 4 3 2 1 5 13 16 78 Sewell, Lauren...... 0.1 1 0 0 1 0 2 3 16 Locke, Amanda....... 2.1 0 0 0 0 2 8 9 34

Win - Locke (2-0). Loss - Hagemann (2-4). Save - None. HBP - by Dunne (Guile); by Dunne (Brechtel); by Locke (Tyson). PB - Guile. Pitches/strikes: Hagemann 90/56; Hupp 44/21; Dunne 78/50; Sewell 16/9; Locke 34/22. Umpires - Start: 3:28 pm Time: 2:36 Attendance: Game: NU14