NU Falls at 11th-Ranked Oklahoma State

Stillwater, Okla. - The Nebraska softball team was shut out for the third straight time in conference play, as Anna Whiddon fired a two-hitter to lead 11th-ranked Oklahoma State to a 4-0 victory on Saturday at Cowgirl Stadium.

Whiddon took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before junior Julie Brechtel and freshman Brooke Thomason lined back-to-back singles on the first two pitches of the inning. But those were the lone two hits Whiddon allowed, as she struck out eight in improving to 21-6 on the season.

Sophomore right-hander Ashley Hagemann was unable to match Whiddon's effort, although she did settle down nicely after a rocky start. Hagemann gave up a three-run homer four batters into the game but allowed only one run the rest of the way. In a complete-game effort, Hagemann (13-12) allowed four runs (three earned) on only five hits, including just two hits over her final 4.2 innings. Hagemann recorded only one strikeout and walked four, while hitting a pair of batters. Three of the four runners who scored against her reach base on a walk, a hit batter and a catcher's interference call.

With the loss, Nebraska fell to 28-24 on the season and 6-9 in Big 12 play. Oklahoma State earned its 15th straight victory at Cowgirl Stadium, while improving to 42-11 overall and 11-4 in conference play.

Nebraska was retired in order in the top of the first before a leadoff hit batter, a stolen base, a catcher's interference call and a sacrifice bunt put Cowgirls on second and third with one out in the bottom of the inning. Julie Ward then hit a three-run homer to give Oklahoma State all of the offense it would need. Hagemann then surrendered back-to-back singles before retiring the next two batters to end the inning.

The Huskers picked up their first base runner when sophomore Kirby Wright was hit by a pitch to begin the top of the third. A one-out error then put runners on first and second before a pop out and a line out ended the threat.

Neither team produced a hit in the second, third of fourth innings. Oklahoma State then got a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth but could not convert the hit into a run, as senior Whitney Barrett made a nice leaping grab on a blooper back up the middle to prevent a run.

The Cowgirls added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when a two-out single from Katelyn Bright.

Nebraska put a pair of runners on with no outs in the top of the seventh to break up the no-hitter, before a double play and a strike out wrapped up the Oklahoma State victory.

Nebraska and Oklahoma State wrap up their two-game series on Sunday at Noon.

2010 Nebraska Softball Nebraska at #11 Oklahoma State May 01, 2010 at Stillwater, Okla. (Cowgirl Stadium)

Nebraska 0 (28-24,6-9 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Foland, Heidi 1b......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 8 0 0 Haget, Nikki cf.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Guile, Ashley dp......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 4 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 Wright, Kirby c.......... 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 Tyson, Tori lf........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Southworth, Megan ph/lf. 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 24 0 2 0 0 8 18 9 4

Oklahoma State 4 (42-11,11-4 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Gearhart, Mariah 3b...... 2 1 0 0 0 0 4 2 1 Bright, Katelyn lf....... 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 Hamilton, Alysia 2b...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 Ward, Julie 1b........... 3 1 1 3 0 0 6 0 0 Brown, Tamara c.......... 1 0 1 0 2 0 8 0 0 Castle, Megan rf......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 Heinlein, Sam dp......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Garcia, Chelsea ss....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 Anchors, Kelsey cf....... 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 Whiddon, Anna p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Totals................... 22 4 5 4 4 1 21 6 8

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 000 0 - 0 2 1 Oklahoma State...... 300 001 X - 4 5 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Wright(2); Ward. DP - Cowgirls 1. LOB - Huskers 4; Cowgirls 8. HR - Ward. HBP - Wright; Gearhart 2. SH - Hamilton. SB - Gearhart; Brown; Anchors. Reached on CI - Bright.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 6.0 5 4 2 4 1 22 30 85

Oklahoma State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Whiddon, Anna....... 7.0 2 0 0 0 8 24 25 93

Win - Whiddon (21-6). Loss - Hagemann (13-12). Save - None. HBP - by Hagemann (Gearhart); by Whiddon (Wright); by Hagemann (Gearhart). PB - Brown. CI - Wright. Pitches/strikes: Hagemann 85/49; Whiddon 93/68. Umpires - HP: Larry Nagel 1B: Tracy Aura 3B: Winn Garrett Start: 2:00 pm Time: 1:34 Attendance: Game: NU52