Huskers Run Past Badgers, 8-0

Lincoln - Junior right-hander Robin Mackin struck out 10 in a three-hit shutout and Nebraska scored five times in the fifth to close out an 8-0 five-inning victory over Wisconsin in game one of a softball doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Mackin was brilliant in improving to 7-5 on the year. She struck out 10 in only 5.0 innings, striking out at least two batters in each of the first four frames. Behind her effort, Nebraska improved to 16-13 on the season with its third straight win.

Offensively, Nebraska managed only five hits, but the Huskers worked four walks, including two with the bases loaded. Senior Whitney Barrett was 1-for-3 with a double and a career-high-tying three RBIs, as her bases-loaded double with two outs in the bottom of the fifth put the run-rule into effect. Freshman Gabby Banda also homered and scored twice.

Meghan McIntosh (1-3) took the loss for Wisconsin (7-14). In 4.1 innings, McIntosh allowed seven runs (two earned) on only four hits.

The Huskers first cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Junior Heidi Foland reached on a one-out double and was at third with two outs, when Katie Soderberg misplayed a ball at short to allow Foland to score the game's first run. Sophomore Ashley Guile then doubled to the wall in left to score junior Julie Brechtel, who had reached on the error.

Banda made it 3-0 Huskers when she launched a solo home run down the left field line with one out in the bottom of the fourth.

In the fifth, Foland reached on an error and Haget followed with a single. Guile then walked with one out to load the bases and freshman Brooke Thomason coaxed another walk to bring Haget home and make the score 4-0. The Huskers added another run when Mackin walked on four pitches to score Brechtel with the Huskers' fifth run.

Leading 5-0, Barrett ripped a double to the gap in left center that cleared the bases and wrapped up the 8-0 victory.

The Huskers will look for their second consecutive doubleheader sweep in game two.

Box Score 2010 Nebraska Softball Wisconsin at Nebraska (Game 1) Mar 24, 2010 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Wisconsin 0 (7-14)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Krueger, Jennifer cf..... 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 Massey, Whitney 2b....... 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 3 1 Spence, Molly dp/1b...... 2 0 0 0 0 1 7 1 0 Blackshear, Shannel 3b... 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 Gregory, Abby pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Powell, Karla 1b/dp...... 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Grimm, Kendall lf........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Hanewich, Ashley rf...... 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Horton, Kelsey pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Strange, Maggie c........ 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 Soderberg, Katie ss...... 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 0 Mcintosh, Meghan p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Hansen, Kristyn p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 17 0 3 0 3 10 14 10 5

Nebraska 8 (16-13)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Foland, Heidi 1b......... 2 1 1 0 1 0 4 0 0 Haget, Nikki dp.......... 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Guile, Ashley c.......... 2 0 1 1 1 0 10 0 0 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 3 Mackin, Robin p.......... 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 2 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 3 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 Tyson, Tori lf........... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Gonzalez, Crystal cf..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 21 8 5 7 4 1 15 4 4

Score by Innings R H E -------------------------------------- Wisconsin........... 000 00 - 0 3 2 Nebraska............ 002 15 - 8 5 0 --------------------------------------

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

E - Blackshear(1); Soderberg(8). LOB - Badgers 5; Huskers 4. 2B - Foland(6); Guile(8); Barrett(2). HR - Banda(2). HBP - Haget. SB - Krueger 2(15).

Wisconsin IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Mcintosh, Meghan.... 4.1 4 7 2 3 1 19 23 80 Hansen, Kristyn..... 0.1 1 1 0 1 0 2 3 15

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Mackin, Robin....... 5.0 3 0 0 3 10 17 20 89

Win - Mackin (7-5). Loss - Mcintosh (1-3). Save - None. WP - Mcintosh. HBP - by Mcintosh (Haget). PB - Guile(2). Pitches/strikes: Mcintosh 80/47; Hansen 15/5; Mackin 89/55. Umpires - Start: 3:04 pm Time: 1:32 Attendance: Game: NU29