Haget Leads Huskers to 7-3 Win

Tempe, Ariz. ? Junior Nikki Haget had four hits and scored four runs to help the Nebraska softball team overcome a slow start in a 7-3 come-from-behind victory over San Jose State in the first of two games Friday at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.

Haget's four runs tied the school record, as she became the sixth player to reach the mark in the 35-year history of Nebraska softball. Haget's four hits also tied her career high and were one shy of the school record. Haget's record day helped the Huskers close the game with five unanswered runs.

Freshman Taylor Edwards also contributed to the offensive output with a 2-for-4 day that included her first career home run and a pair of RBIs. Her twin sister Tatum Edwards also went 2-for-4, while senior Julie Brechtel was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Junior Ashley Guile also added a pair of RBIs for NU. Nebraska out-hit the Spartans, 12-4.

In the circle, Tatum Edwards earned her first career start but did not record an out. She faced five batters, walking three and allowing two hits which led to two runs. Junior right-hander Haley Workman (1-0) earned the win after limiting the damage in the first and allowing only one run on just one hit in 4.0 innings of work. Junior right-hander Ashley Hagemann earned the save, giving up only one hit and striking out seven over the final 3.0 innings.

Jennifer Ames (1-1) took the loss for San Jose State, which fell to 1-2 on the season. Ames allowed six runs (four earned) on 10 hits in 5.2 innings.

Nebraska jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Haget led off with a single and stole second base. She was joined on the basepaths by Guile, who drew a one-out walk. Taylor Edwards then delivered an RBI single through the left side to score Haget and give the Huskers an early one-run lead.

Tatum Edwards faced only five batters in the bottom of the first before being relieved by Workman. Edwards walked the first three batters she faced to load the bases before back-to-back RBI singles gave San Jose State a 2-1 lead. Workman then entered the game with the bases loaded and still none out and prevented any further damage by recording a strikeout and a pair of fly outs.

The Huskers tied the game in the top of the third. Haget led off with an infield single, moved up to second on a ground out from Brechtel and advanced to third on a two-out wild pitch. Taylor Edwards then hit a grounder to second that was fielded cleanly, but the throw to first was wild, allowing Edwards to reach on the error and Haget to score the tying run.

The Spartans answered right back to take the lead in the bottom of the frame. A leadoff walk cost Nebraska again, as Jessica Garcia came around to score on a two-out, RBI single from BranDee Garcia.

Nebraska finally regained the lead in the top of the fifth. Haget reached on a one-out infield single. Brechtel followed with a single to move Haget to third and on the throw, Brechtel advanced to second. Guile then delivered a two-run single to center to put the Huskers in front 4-3. Sophomore Brooke Thomason extended the lead with clutch two-out RBI single that scored freshman pinch runner Morgan McCann.

Hagemann entered the game in the bottom of the frame and preserved the lead with a scoreless inning.

The Huskers then added an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Haget recorded her fourth hit with one out and advanced to second on an error. Brechtel then came through with a clutch two-out, RBI double to increase the lead to 6-3.

After Hagemann struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth, Taylor Edwards extended Nebraska's lead to 7-3 with a towering solo home run to begin the top of the seventh. Hagemann then retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame to wrap up the victory.

The Huskers return to action later tonight, when they take on No. 1 Arizona at 8 p.m. (Central).

2011 Nebraska Softball Nebraska at San Jose State Feb 11, 2011 at Tempe, Ariz. (Tempe Sports Complex)

Nebraska 7 (2-0)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki cf.......... 4 4 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 4 1 2 1 0 1 1 2 0 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 3 0 1 2 1 0 4 1 1 McCann, Morgan pr....... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Edwards, Taylor c........ 4 1 2 2 0 0 8 0 0 Wright, Kirby c......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 Edwards, Tatum p/lf...... 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 Wright, Saige pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 Muir, Kylee dp........... 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Banda, Gabby ss.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Southworth, Megan lf..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Workman, Haley p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Hagemann, Ashley p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 33 7 12 6 1 4 21 5 7

San Jose State 3 (1-2)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Collins, Markesha lf..... 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 Coenen, Sadie dp......... 3 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 Freitas, Cheryl 2b....... 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 1 Garcia, Jessica c........ 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 2 0 Schatz, Amanda c........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 Ziemann, Stephanie rf.... 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 Chapman, Nikki 1b........ 2 0 0 0 1 1 10 0 0 Garcia, BranDee ss....... 3 0 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 Mertz, Kailey 3b......... 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 3 Menjivar, Cristina ph... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Helm, Britney cf......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 2 Ames, Jennifer p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gutierrez, Janessa p.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 25 3 4 3 7 10 21 11 8

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 101 031 1 - 7 12 0 San Jose State...... 201 000 0 - 3 4 2 -----------------------------------------

E - Freitas(1); Garcia, B.(2). LOB - Huskers 7; Spartans 8. 2B - Brechtel(1). HR - Edwards, Tay(1). HBP - Banda. SB - Haget(1); Collins(2); Garcia, B.(1). CS - Banda(1).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Edwards, Tatum...... 0.0 2 2 2 3 0 2 5 27 Workman, Haley...... 4.0 1 1 1 3 3 13 16 65 Hagemann, Ashley.... 3.0 1 0 0 1 7 10 11 59

San Jose State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Ames, Jennifer...... 5.2 10 6 4 1 2 27 29 91 Gutierrez, Janessa.. 1.1 2 1 1 0 2 6 6 24

Win - Workman (1-0). Loss - Ames (1-1). Save - Hagemann (1). WP - Edwards, Tat(1); Ames 2(3). HBP - by Ames (Banda). BK - Gutierrez(1). Pitches/strikes: Edwards, Tat 27/11; Workman 65/35; Hagemann 59/39; Ames 91/59; Gutierrez 24/15. Umpires - HP: Teresa Smith 1B: Frank Amparano 3B: Rob Hough Start: 2:24 pm Time: 2:23 Attendance: Edwards, Tat faced 5 batters in the 1st. Game: NU2