Huskers No-Hit by North Carolina

Seattle - A simple bunt turned into disaster for the Nebraska softball team on Friday, as a pair of errors turned a would-be out into the only run of the game, as the Huskers fell to North Carolina, 1-0, in the opening game of the NCAA Seattle Regional at Husky Softball Stadium.

The game's only run scored in the bottom of the fourth inning when Anna Roberts bunted back to Hagemann to begin the inning. Hagemann fielded the ball cleanly, but her throw to first was wild and sailed into foul territority down the right field line. With Roberts heading to second, right fielder Brooke Thomason couldn't stop the ball in foul territory, as it rolled all the way to the wall, allowing Roberts to round third and beat a late throw home to give North Carolina the only run of the game.

That run was more than enough for ACC Pitcher of the Year Danielle Spaulding, who tossed her fifth no-hitter of the season and struck out 11 Huskers. Spaulding allowed only two Huskers to reach base in the game and retired the final 17 batters of the game. Her no-hitter marked the first time Nebraska had been no-hit since 2006 and only the second time the Huskers have ever been held hitless in the NCAA Tournament.

Sophomore right-hander Ashley Hagemann pitched brilliantly in a losing effort, but fell to 14-15 on the season. Hagemann tossed a two-hitter and did not allow an earnerd run. Hagemann added five strikeouts and worked around two walks, as North Carolina hit only two balls out of the infield all game. Hagemann's two-hitter marked the fewest hits allowed by a Husker in NCAA Tournament play since Peaches James one-hit Michigan in the 2002 Women's College World Series.

WIth the loss, Nebraska (29-28) will face the loser of Friday night's game between No. 3 national seed Washington and North Dakota State at 7:30 p.m. (Central ) on Saturday in an elimination game on ESPNU.

The game's first scoring threat came in the top of the second with a one-out walk to freshman Gabby Banda and an error that allowed sophomore Jamie Gay reach base safely. With runners on first and second and only one out, Nebraska was held off the scoreboard when Spaulding struck out the next two batters. The pair of runners would prove to be the final base runners of the game for Nebraska, as Spaulding retired the final 17 batters of the game.

Hagemann enjoyed similar success, retiring 15 of the first 18 batters she faced before North Carolina threatened to add an insurance run in the sixth. A bunt single and a hit batter put Tar Heels on first and second with one out. Hagemann then struck out Spaulding before another walk loaded the base. Hagemann then gave her offense a final chance by coaxing a foul out to keep it a one-run game.

Nebraska sent its Nos. 3, 4 and 5 hitters to the plate in the top of the seventh, but a strikeout, a ground out back to the pitcher and another strikeout ended any hopes of a comeback.

2010 Nebraska Softball Nebraska vs North Carolina May 21, 2010 at Seattle, Wash. (Husky Softball Stdm)

Nebraska 0 (29-28)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Foland, Heidi 1b......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 0 Haget, Nikki cf.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Guile, Ashley c.......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 2 0 0 0 1 1 3 2 0 Gay, Jamie dp............ 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Tyson, Tori lf........... 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 Barrett, Whitney ss...... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 22 0 0 0 1 11 18 4 3

North Carolina 1 (41-18)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Christine Knauer ss...... 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 Anna Roberts rf.......... 3 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Brittany McKinney dp..... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Tisha Mahon pr.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Danielle Spaulding p..... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 Ally Blake c............. 1 0 0 0 2 1 11 1 0 Kelli Wheeler lf......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 Stephanie Murad 1b....... 2 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 Brittany Robinson 3b..... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dani Manko cf............ 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Kelsey Green 2b/pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 21 1 2 0 2 5 21 5 5

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 000 0 - 0 0 2 North Carolina...... 000 100 X - 1 2 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Thomason(2); Hagemann(2); Robinson(8). LOB - Huskers 3; Tar Heels 5. HBP - Guile; McKinney.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 6.0 2 1 0 2 5 21 24 92

North Carolina IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Danielle Spaulding.. 7.0 0 0 0 1 11 22 24 91

Win - Spaulding (20-5). Loss - Hagemann (14-15). Save - None. HBP - by Spaulding (Guile); by Hagemann (McKinney). Pitches/strikes: Hagemann 92/55; Spaulding 91/60. Umpires - HP: Geri Magwire 1B: John Stoodley 3B: Bobby Shelton Start: 4:35 pm Time: 1:58 Attendance: Game: NU57