Huskers Come Back to Beat Kansas

Lincoln - The Nebraska softball team scored seven straight runs to erase an early three-run deficit and rally for an 8-5 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks on Thursday night at Bowlin Stadium.

Kansas led 3-0 before Nebraska scored once in the second, then four times in the third to take the lead for good. The Huskers added two more runs in the third and after Kansas cut the lead to 7-5 in the top of the sixth, Nebraska tacked on another run in the bottom of the frame.

The win improved Nebraska to 27-20 on the season and evened its conference record at 6-6. It also gave NU a season sweep over Kansas, the Huskers' second Big 12 sweep this month. Nebraska had only posted one Big 12 series sweep over the last two years and hadn't swept two opponents in the same season since 2007.

Sophomore right-hander Ashley Hagemann (12-9) earned the win, as she started and threw the first 3.0 innings before re-entering the game to pitch the final 1.2 innings. In 4.2 total innings, Hagemann allowed three runs on four hits. Junior right-hander Robin Mackin pitched the middle 2.1 innings but did not factor into the decision and did not earn a save. In 2.1 innings, Mackin allowed two runs and struck out four.

Offensively, sophomore Ashley Guile went 3-for-3 with a homer, a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Junior Julie Brechtel also homered as part of a 1-for-3 day that included two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Overall, every Husker produced at least one hit as Nebraska pounded out 12 hits as a team. Freshman Brooke Thomason joined Guile with a multi-hit effort, finishing 2-for-4.

Allie Clark (7-7) took the loss for Kansas, which dropped to 18-27 on the year and 1-11 in league play. Clark allowed five runs on seven hits in 2.0 innings.

Kansas jumped out to a 2-0 lead three batters into the game. Hagemann walked Rosie Hull with one out before Mariah Montgomery blasted the next pitch to deep center for a two-run homer.

Nebraska had a chance to answer in the bottom of the inning but came up empty. Junior Heidi Foland began the frame with a single and a one-out double from Guile put Huskers at second and third before the next two batters struck out swinging.

The Huskers then walked in a run for the third straight game in the top of the second. A leadoff single, a one-out single and a two-out walk loaded the bases. A second straight walk to Rosie Hull forced in a run before Montgomery fouled out to third to leave the bases loaded with the Jayhawks on top 3-0.

In the bottom of the inning, freshmen Gabby Banda and Megan Southworth led off with consecutive singles. Senior Whitney Barrett then fouled out to left on a 3-1 pitch and both runners tagged up and advanced a base. But upon appeal, Banda was ruled out for leaving early which left Southworth at second with two outs. Junior Tori Tyson then doubled over the head of the center fielder to score Southworth.

Nebraska continued to threaten in the bottom of the third. A single, a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with no outs before Thomason grounded an RBI single through the right side to cut the gap to 3-2. Vertelka then came on in relief and her first pitch was ruled illegal and scored sophomore pinch-runner Madison Drake with the tying run. Banda then walked to re-load the bases before a second illegal pitch scored Brechtel and put the Huskers on top 4-3.

With runners on second and third and no outs, a pop out, a bunt and a strikeout prevented further damage.

The Huskers stretched the lead to 7-3 in the fourth when Brechtel blasted a one-out, two-run homer to right.

Kansas got back in the game in the top of the sixth when Marissa Ingle launched a one-out, two-run homer to left center to pull the Jayhawks within 7-5.

Guile then answered with a one-out solo shot in the bottom of the frame to close out the scoring.

Nebraska remains home this weekend when the Huskers host 13th-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday and Sunday at Bowlin Stadium.

2010 Nebraska Softball Kansas at Nebraska Apr 22, 2010 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Kansas 5 (18-27,1-11 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Jones, Alex cf........... 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 1 Hull, R. rf.............. 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 Montgomery, Mariah ss.... 3 1 1 2 1 0 2 1 3 Irwin, Alicia pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hile, Brittany c......... 4 0 1 0 0 2 5 0 1 Jobe, Amanda 1b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 Clark, Allie p/dp........ 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 Ingle, Marissa 3b........ 3 1 1 2 0 2 0 3 0 Ramirez, Sara 2b......... 3 0 1 0 0 2 3 0 0 Hull, M. lf.............. 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 Daiber, Leah dp.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vertelka, Sarah p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 26 5 6 5 5 8 18 4 5

Nebraska 8 (27-20,6-6 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Foland, Heidi 1b......... 4 0 1 0 0 1 8 0 4 Haget, Nikki lf.......... 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Guile, Ashley c.......... 3 2 3 1 1 0 8 0 0 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 2 1 2 0 1 0 2 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 4 1 2 1 0 2 0 0 2 Gay, Jamie pr........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 3 1 Southworth, Megan dp..... 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 Tyson, Tori cf........... 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mackin, Robin p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 29 8 12 6 2 5 21 6 7

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Kansas.............. 210 002 0 - 5 6 1 Nebraska............ 014 201 X - 8 12 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Montgomery(12). DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Jayhawks 5; Huskers 7. 2B - Guile(14); Tyson(2). HR - Montgomery(4); Ingle(6); Guile(2); Brechtel(6). HBP - Brechtel. SH - Tyson(1).

Kansas IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Clark, Allie........ 2.0 7 5 5 1 2 12 14 68 Vertelka, Sarah..... 4.0 5 3 3 1 3 17 19 69

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 4.2 4 3 3 4 4 17 21 79 Mackin, Robin....... 2.1 2 2 2 1 4 9 10 39

Win - Hagemann (12-9). Loss - Clark (7-7). Save - None. HBP - by Clark (Brechtel). BK - Vertelka 2(8). Pitches/strikes: Clark 68/36; Vertelka 69/46; Hagemann 79/47; Mackin 39/24. Umpires - HP: Dani Carson-Newman 1B: Andy Hahn 3B: Jeff Sloan Start: 5:03 pm Time: 2:15 Attendance: 276 Clark faced 4 batters in the 3rd. Game: NU47