Huskers Swept at No. 11 Oklahoma State

Stillwater, Okla. - A six-run second inning doomed the Nebraska softball team on Sunday afternoon, as the 11th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls rode the big inning to an 8-0 five-inning victory over the Huskers at Cowgirl Stadium.

Oklahoma State scored six times on only three hits in the inning, as Nebraska walked three batters and hit another. But two of the three hits were bases-loaded doubles, driving in five of the six runs. On the game, OSU only out-hit Nebraska 4-3.

The big inning sent Nebraska to its fourth straight Big 12 Conference loss, all to top-15 teams and all by shutouts. With the loss, the Huskers fell to 28-25 on the season and remained in seventh place in the conference standings with a 6-10 league record. Oklahoma State improved to 43-11 and 12-4 in Big 12 play with its 16th straight home win. OSU is 19-1 at Cowgirl Stadium this season.

Kat Espinosa (19-4) earned the win, tossing a three-hit shutout. Junior right-hander Robin Mackin (12-13) took the loss for Nebraska. Making her first appearance in more than a week due to recurring shoulder pain, Mackin was only able to last 1.1 innings before leaving the game. She was charged with three runs on only one hit.

Sophomore right-hander Ashley Hagemann went 2.0 innings and allowed only three hits, but all three hits went for extra bases as she was allowed five runs (four earned) while walking two and hitting a pair of batters. Sophomore Madison Drake made her career pitching debut for the Huskers in the bottom of the fourth and retired two of the three batters she faced, with the lone base runner reaching on an error.

Neither team had a base runner until Oklahoma State drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the second to start a string of seven consecutive batters reaching base. The next batter followed with a single before another walk loaded the bases. On ball four, Mackin's pitch bounced well short of the plate and she clutched her right shoulder and was promptly taken out of the game.

Hagemann came on in relief and with a pulled-in infield, her first pitch was grounded past freshman Gabby Banda at third and down the left field line for a two-run double. Another walk re-loaded the bases with one out for the top of the Cowgirl order. Mariah Gearhart then fouled off five two-strike pitches before being hit by a 3-2 pitch to force in the third run of the inning. Katelyn Bright then capped the inning with another bases loaded double, this one scoring three runs to put Oklahoma State on top 6-0.

Nebraska mounted its first scoring threat in the top of the fourth. Junior Julie Brechtel led off the inning with a single before sophomore Ashley Guile singled with one outs to put runners on first and second. Banda then thought she had drawn ball four to load the bases, but a late strike call by the home plate umpire brought her back to the batter's box. She then flew out to right for the second out before junior Heidi Foland lined out to the center fielder to end the inning.

Chelsea Garcia then led off the bottom of the frame with a solo home run to left center to make it 7-0. A two-out error allowed the game's final run to score.

In the top of the fifth, Nebraska sent three pinch-hitters to the plate and all three were retired.

Nebraska closes out the regular season next weekend when the Huskers host 15th-ranked Missouri on Saturday and Sunday at Bowlin Stadium. Saturday's game will be televised nationally on FSN.

2010 Nebraska Softball Nebraska at #11 Oklahoma State May 02, 2010 at Stillwater, Okla. (Cowgirl Stadium)

Nebraska 0 (28-25,6-10 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki cf.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Guile, Ashley dp......... 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Foland, Heidi 1b......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 2 Wright, Kirby c.......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Southworth, Megan ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Hupp, Alex ph........... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Tyson, Tori lf........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Gay, Jamie ph........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mackin, Robin p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Hagemann, Ashley p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Drake, Madison p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 18 0 3 0 0 1 12 7 3

Oklahoma State 8 (43-11,12-4 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Gearhart, Mariah 3b...... 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 Bright, Katelyn lf....... 2 0 1 3 1 0 3 0 0 Hamilton, Alysia 2b...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Ward, Julie 1b........... 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 Brown, Tamara c.......... 2 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 Castle, Megan rf......... 3 1 1 0 0 1 3 0 3 Heinlein, Sam dp......... 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Casaus, Breana pr/dp.... 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Garcia, Chelsea ss....... 2 2 2 3 0 0 1 1 0 Anchors, Kelsey cf....... 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 Espinosa, Kat p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 17 8 4 8 4 2 15 3 4

Score by Innings R H E -------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 00 - 0 3 1 Oklahoma State...... 060 2X - 8 4 0 --------------------------------------

E - Barrett(16). LOB - Huskers 3; Cowgirls 4. 2B - Bright; Garcia. HR - Garcia. HBP - Gearhart 2; Ward.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Mackin, Robin....... 1.1 1 3 3 2 0 5 7 22 Hagemann, Ashley.... 2.0 3 5 4 2 2 9 13 61 Drake, Madison...... 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 8

Oklahoma State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Espinosa, Kat....... 5.0 3 0 0 0 1 18 18 59

Win - Espinosa (19-4). Loss - Mackin (12-13). Save - None. HBP - by Hagemann (Gearhart); by Hagemann (Gearhart); by Drake (Ward). Pitches/strikes: Mackin 22/10; Hagemann 61/34; Drake 8/4; Espinosa 59/36. Umpires - HP: Tracy Avra 1B: Winn Garrett 3B: Lary Nagel Start: 12:00 pm Time: 1:17 Attendance: Game: NU53