NU Runs Past Jackrabbits in Game One

Lincoln - Junior Julie Brechtel produced a season-high three hits to lead a strong offensive showing in the Nebraska softball team's 8-3 win over South Dakota State in game one of a Wednesday doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium.

Brechtel finished 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs, as she reached base safely in each of her four plate appearances. Her three hits paced a Nebraska offensive attack that pounded out 12 hits. Classmate Heidi Foland hit her 10th home run of the season as part of a 2-for-4 day that included a pair of runs scored and one RBI. Her home run also marked the 100th hit of her career. Sophomore Ashley Guile also produced a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4, while senior Whitney Barrett drove in a pair of runs.

In the circle, junior right-hander Robin Mackin earned the win to even her record at 8-8. Mackin struck out nine and allowed only three singles in 5.0 innings of work. Her nine strikeouts were two shy of her season high set on Tuesday. Senior right-hander Alex Hupp pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing three runs on two hits.

With the win, the Huskers improved to 19-16 on the season. South Dakota State fell to 8-18. Kori Seidlitz (7-11) took the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits in a complete-game effort.

South Dakota State nearly jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. The leadoff batter reached on an error and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt before a single put runners at first and third with one out. Ashley Durazo then stole second and the throw momentarily got away from Barrett at second. Devon Reick then made a late break for home, but Barrett recovered in time to throw her out at the plate.

After being retired in order in the first, Brechtel and freshman Brooke Thomason drew back-to-back walks to lead off the bottom of the second. The runners moved up to second and third on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Gabby Banda before Barrett came through with a clutch two-out, two-run single up the middle on a 1-2 pitch two batters later.

The Huskers added to the lead in the third. Foland led off the inning with her second home run in two days, a shot off the foul pole in left. Sophomore Nikki Haget and Guile followed with singles to put runners on first and third with one out. Brechtel then lined a 1-1 pitch into center field for an RBI single that brought Haget home and made the score 4-0.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Banda hit a grounder to third and SDSU threw home for the force out. But in trying to turn a double play, the throw to first got past the first baseman, allowing Brechtel to score to make it 5-0. A strikeout and a two-out walk loaded the bases again before a pop out prevented further damage.

The Huskers kept the runs coming in the fourth. Foland led off with a single and Guile added a one-out single to put runners at first and second. Brechtel then delivered her second RBI single of the game and Thomason followed with another RBI single off the wall in left center to push the lead to 7-0.

South Dakota State finally found the scoreboard in the top of the sixth. Hupp walked the first batter she faced and quickly retired the next two hitters before Dani Broshar lifted a 3-2 pitch over the fence in right for a two-out, two-run homer.

Nebraska put two of its first three batters on base in the bottom of the frame on singles from sophomore pinch-hitter Jamie Gay and Brechtel but could not score.

Hupp then allowed one run in the seventh before closing out the game.

Nebraska will look to sweep the doubleheader and finish with a winning March record for the 16th straight season in game two.

Box Score 2010 Nebraska Softball South Dakota State at Nebraska (Game 1) Mar 31, 2010 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

South Dakota State 3 (8-18)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Devon Reick cf........... 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 Andrea New rf............ 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Ashley Durazo ss......... 3 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 Kelsey Lunn 1b........... 3 0 0 0 0 2 5 1 1 Dani Broshar c........... 3 1 1 2 0 1 4 0 0 Morgan McCabe dp......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Greta Stroh ph.......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Krista Honken lf......... 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 Tina Winter 3b........... 3 0 0 1 0 2 1 1 0 Marlee Petersen 2b....... 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 3 0 Kori Seidlitz p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 26 3 5 3 1 9 18 6 4

Nebraska 8 (19-16)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Foland, Heidi 3b/lf...... 4 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 Haget, Nikki cf.......... 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Gay, Jamie ph........... 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 4 1 2 0 0 0 7 0 0 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 2 3 2 1 0 1 3 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 2 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby dp/3b....... 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Wright, Kirby c.......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 10 1 2 Southworth, Megan ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 0 1 2 1 0 1 3 0 Tyson, Tori lf........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 Hupp, Alex ph/p......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Mackin, Robin p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Totals................... 29 8 12 7 4 3 21 10 8

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- South Dakota State.. 000 002 1 - 3 5 2 Nebraska............ 023 201 X - 8 12 2 -----------------------------------------

E - A. Durazo(5); K. Lunn(6); Foland 2(7). LOB - Jackrabbits 4; Huskers 8. 2B - K. Honken(4). HR - D. Broshar(4); Foland(10). SH - A. New(4); Banda(3). SB - A. Durazo(4); Barrett(4).

South Dakota State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Kori Seidlitz....... 6.0 12 8 7 4 3 29 34 112

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Mackin, Robin....... 5.0 3 0 0 0 9 18 19 77 Hupp, Alex.......... 2.0 2 3 3 1 0 8 9 28

Win - Mackin (8-8). Loss - K. Seidlitz (7-11). Save - None. WP - Hupp 2(6). Pitches/strikes: K. Seidlitz 112/64; Mackin 77/53; Hupp 28/16. Umpires - HP: Scott Mair 1B: Kevin Killingsworth 3B: Eric Mandley Start: 3:02 pm Time: 1:49 Attendance: Game: NU35