Huskers Upset 14th-Ranked Tigers

Lincoln - A pair of sophomores stole the spotlight on Senior Day for the Nebraska softball team on Saturday, as Ashley Hagemann and Ashley Guile powered the Huskers to a 5-2 victory over 14th-ranked Missouri at Bowlin Stadium.

Hagemann (14-12) was outstanding in the circle, firing a four-hitter and allowing only two runs against a potent Missouri lineup that leads the league in runs and had scored at least five runs in 13 straight games. Hagemann struck out seven and worked around four walks.

At the plate, Guile went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Her three-run homer in the first inning gave Hagemann all the run support she would need. Freshman Gabby Banda added two RBIs as part of a 1-for-3 day, as the Huskers out-hit Tigers 8-4. Two of those hits were doubles, as Nebraska has 25 doubles in Big 12 play this season, tying the 1996 Huskers for the highest total in school history.

With the win, Nebraska clinched the No. 6 seed for next weekend's Big 12 Championship, where the Huskers will face either No. 13 Oklahoma State or No. 20 Texas A&M in the first round. The Huskers improved to 29-25 on the season and 7-10 in conference play.

Missouri fell to 43-10 on the year and dropped to 7-10 in Big 12 play. The Tigers saw their seven-game winning streak snapped, as Missouri had won 16 of its last 17 games entering the game.

Nebraska pounced on the Tigers early after being shut out in its last four conference games. In the bottom of the first, junior Heidi Foland and sophomore Nikki Haget began the inning with singles before Guile blasted a 1-2 pitch to right field for a towering three-run homer.

Missouri cut into the lead with a two-out rally in the top of the third. Rhea Taylor drew a two-out walk and stole second base before Catherine Lee doubled to the gap in left center to make it 3-1. After a conference in the circle, Jenna Marston then produced an RBI single through the left side to score Lee and make it a one-run game. A bloop double followed to put runners at second and third with two outs before a fly out ended the inning.

Nebraska got both runs back in the bottom of the frame. Guile reached on a one-out single before a two-out double from freshman Brooke Thomason put runners on second and third. Banda then delivered a clutch two-run single up the middle on a 1-2 pitch to put the Huskers on top 5-2.

In the bottom of the fourth, a one-out double from senior Alex Hupp and a walk to Foland put Huskers on first and second with one out. Following a strikeout, Kristin Nottelmann came on to face Guile, who hit a high grounder on the infield. Missouri second baseman Gina Schneider fielded the ball cleanly but had no play until Hupp took off for home. Schneider fired a throw to the plate to just beat Hupp and end the inning.

But the missed opportunity would not hurt the Huskers, as Hagemann did not allow a hit over the final four innings.

Nebraska and Missouri wrap up their series on Sunday in the final game of the regular season at Noon.

2010 Nebraska Softball #14 Missouri at Nebraska May 08, 2010 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Missouri 2 (43-10,10-7 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Taylor, Rhea cf.......... 2 1 0 0 2 1 3 0 0 Lee, Catherine 1b........ 4 1 1 1 0 1 4 0 1 Marston, Jenna ss........ 3 0 1 1 0 2 2 0 0 Fleming, Ashley rf....... 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Hudson, Nicole 3b........ 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 Koontz, Katy pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Schneider, Gina 2b....... 2 0 1 0 1 1 2 2 0 White, Shana lf.......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 Christopher, Megan c..... 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 Ortega, Ashlie ph....... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Schweisberger, Marla dp.. 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Hainey, Jana p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nottelmann, Kristin p... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 25 2 4 2 4 7 18 3 6

Nebraska 5 (29-25,7-10 Big 12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Foland, Heidi 1b......... 2 1 1 0 1 0 5 0 0 Haget, Nikki cf.......... 3 1 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 Guile, Ashley dp......... 3 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 0 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 Wright, Kirby c.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 2 Southworth, Megan ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 0 Hupp, Alex lf............ 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Tyson, Tori lf.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 25 5 8 5 2 4 21 4 4

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Missouri............ 002 000 0 - 2 4 0 Nebraska............ 302 000 X - 5 8 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Haget(7). DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Tigers 6; Huskers 4. 2B - Lee(5); Fleming(9); Thomason(14); Hupp(2). HR - Guile(3). SB - Taylor 2(37); S. White(15).

Missouri IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hainey, Jana........ 3.2 7 5 5 2 1 18 20 79 Nottelmann, Kristin. 2.1 1 0 0 0 3 7 7 29

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 7.0 4 2 2 4 7 25 29 125

Win - Hagemann (14-12). Loss - Hainey (9-2). Save - None. Pitches/strikes: Hainey 79/51; Nottelmann 29/18; Hagemann 125/74. Umpires - HP: Winn Garrett 1B: Jeff Sloan 3B: Matt Titkemeier Start: 12:07 pm Time: 2:11 Attendance: 516 Game: NU54