Huskers Fall to No. 19 Texas A&M

Oklahoma City - Clutch hitting propelled 19th-ranked Texas A&M to a 5-0 victory over the Husker softball team on Saturday night in first-round action at the Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City.

The Aggies out-hit the Huskers 6-2, and four of the six hits came in a three-run fourth inning for Texas A&M (42-13), including three consecutive two-out singles that drove in all three runs. One of the remaining two hits was a solo home run in the sixth inning that closed out the scoring.

Reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Week Melissa Dumezich earned the victory to improve to 17-1 in her freshman season. Dumezich tossed a two-hit shutout and struck out eight.

Sophomore right-hander Ashley Hagemann (14-14) took the loss for NU. In a complete-game effort, Hagemann allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits, striking out six and walking four.

In the top of the first, Nebraska failed to capitalize on a two-on, no-out situation, and then the Huskers were their own worst enemy in the bottom of the frame. A pair of walks and an error loaded the bases with one out. Kelsey Spittler then gave Texas A&M a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to center before Hagemann recorded a strikeout to prevent further damage.

A tough break cost Nebraska an opportunity to at least tie the game in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Ashley Guile drew a leadoff walk and classmate Madison Drake came on to run. Junior Julie Brechtel then put down a perfect sacrifice bunt and reached safely when Alex Reynolds' throw sailed into right field. Drake took off for third and beat the throw, but she barely overslid the bag and was tagged out. Instead of runners on first and third with no outs, Brechtel stood at first with one out before a foul out and a caught stealing ended the inning.

The Aggies then produced the game's first hits to take a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. Spittler led off with a triple but was still there with two outs after a ground out and a strikeout. Dumezich then lined a 3-2 pitch up the middle for a two-out RBI single. A bloop single and a wild pitch put two more runners in scoring position before Lauren Schwirtlich grounded a two-run single up the middle to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Nebraska then picked up its first two hits on back-to-back two-out singles from junior Tori Tyson and senior Whitney Barrett in the top of the fifth, but the rally did not produce any runs.

Dumezich then caped a 2-for-3 day at the plate with a solo homer with one out in the sixth inning.

With the loss, Nebraska (29-27) will await word on a possible at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament when the field of 64 is announced live on ESPNU at 9 p.m. (Central).

2010 Nebraska Softball Nebraska vs #19 Texas A&M May 15, 2010 at Oklahoma City (ASA Hall of Fame Std)

Nebraska 0 (29-27)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Foland, Heidi 1b......... 2 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 2 Haget, Nikki cf.......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 Guile, Ashley c.......... 2 0 0 0 1 0 9 1 0 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Banda, Gabby 3b/dp....... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 Southworth, Megan ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex dp............ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Gay, Jamie ph/3b........ 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Tyson, Tori lf........... 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 21 0 2 0 2 8 18 5 4

Texas A&M 5 (42-13)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Schwirtlich, Lauren 2b... 3 1 1 2 1 0 1 1 0 Shannon, Sydney dp....... 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 May, Meagan c............ 0 0 0 0 3 0 8 1 0 Tovar, Andrea pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kliesing, Rhiannon 1b.... 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 1 Spittler, Kelsey lf...... 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Reynolds, Alex 3b........ 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 4 Morrow, Macie ss......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 Dumezich, Melissa p...... 3 2 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 Orsak, Kelsea cf......... 3 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 Schroeder, Bailey rf..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 Totals................... 23 5 6 5 4 6 21 5 6

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 000 0 - 0 2 1 Texas A&M........... 100 301 X - 5 6 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Barrett(17); Reynolds(8). LOB - Huskers 4; Aggies 6. 3B - Spittler(5). HR - Dumezich(6). HBP - Spittler. SH - Haget(8); Brechtel(3). SF - Spittler(2). CS - Brechtel(1).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 6.0 6 5 4 4 6 23 29 107

Texas A&M IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Dumezich, Melissa... 7.0 2 0 0 2 8 21 25 105

Win - Dumezich (17-1). Loss - Hagemann (14-14). Save - None. WP - Hagemann 2(11). HBP - by Hagemann (Spittler). Pitches/strikes: Hagemann 107/60; Dumezich 105/71. Umpires - HP: Kevin Wallace 1B: Susie Benzel 3B: Jeff Sloan Start: 5:03 pm Time: 1:59 Attendance: Game: NU56