Huskers Hold on For 3-1 Win

Tempe, Ariz. ? A pair of Elkhorn natives led the Nebraska softball team to a 3-1 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Saturday afternoon in the first of two games at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Junior Ashley Hagemann picked up the victory with her first complete game of the season, while classmate Nikki Haget hit her first career home run in the win.

Hagemann (2-1) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and allowed only one run on four hits. She added 11 strikeouts, including a game-ending punch-out with the tying runners on base and the winning run at the plate. Behind Hagemann, Nebraska improved to 3-1 on the season.

Offensively, Haget went 2-for-3 with a homer, a double, an RBI and a run scored. Her leadoff homer in the top of the fourth inning was the first hit of the game. Nebraska's second hit was also a solo home run, this time off the bat of freshman Tatum Edwards. Junior Ashley Guile and sophomore Gabby Banda added Nebraska's other two hits, with Banda driving in the final run.

After throwing a shutout in her first start of the season, Ari Cervantes (1-1) took the loss for Cal State Fullerton (1-2). In a complete-game effort, Cervantes struck out six and allowed three runs on five hits.

Neither team recorded a hit until Haget, known for her slapping ability, swung away on a 2-0 offering and blasted a pitch over the fence in right for a solo home run to lead off the top of the fourth inning.

Nebraska’s second hit came an inning later when Tatum Edwards lined a two-strike pitch the opposite way for a solo home run with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Senior Heidi Foland followed with a walk, stole second and scored on a two-out, RBI single from Banda that gave Nebraska a 3-0 lead. Haget then doubled to give the Huskers a chance to extend the lead, but a foul out left runners stranded at second and third.

Cal State Fullerton threatened for the first time in the bottom of the fifth. Hagemann struck out two of the first three batters but issued a walk in between the strikeouts. With two outs, Hagemann lost her no-hitter on an infield single and gave up another single on the next pitch to load the bases. But Hagemann kept the Titans off the scoreboard by striking out pinch hitter Lauren Mario.

The Titans spoiled the shutout when Natalie DeLeese hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. The next two batters also reached base to bring the winning run to the plate, but Hagemann coaxed an infield pop out and a strikeout to preserve the win.

Nebraska plays again Saturday against No. 18 Stanford. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (Central) although games are currently running behind schedule.

2011 Nebraska Softball Nebraska vs Cal State Fullerton Feb 12, 2011 at Tempe, Ariz. (Tempe Sports Complex)

Nebraska 3 (3-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki cf.......... 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 3 0 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 McCann, Morgan pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Edwards, Taylor dp....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Edwards, Tatum lf........ 3 1 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Wright, Kirby c.......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 13 0 0 Southworth, Megan ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby ss.......... 2 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Totals................... 25 3 5 3 1 6 21 2 2

Cal State Fullerton 1 (1-2)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Martinez, Adriana ss..... 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Carter, Ashley lf........ 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Mario, Lauren ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 Durgin, Chelsea ph...... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Johnson, Nicole 3b....... 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 LeMond, Morgan dp........ 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Craddick, K.C. 1b........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 Anderson, Torrie cf...... 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 DeLeese, Natalie 2b...... 2 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 Dabbs, Sammie rf......... 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 Crawford, Eliza ph...... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Cervantes, Ari p......... 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 Tsuchiyama, Ariel c...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 0 Totals................... 25 1 4 1 2 11 21 4 7

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 120 0 - 3 5 1 Cal State Fullerton. 000 000 1 - 1 4 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Wright, K.(1). LOB - Huskers 2; Titans 7. 2B - Haget(1). HR - Haget(1); Edwards, Tat(2); DeLeese. HBP - Johnson. SB - Foland(1). CS - McCann(1). Reached on CI - Craddick.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 7.0 4 1 1 2 11 25 29 127

Cal State Fullerton IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Cervantes, Ari...... 7.0 5 3 3 1 6 25 26 93

Win - Hagemann (2-1). Loss - Cervantes (0-1). Save - None. WP - Hagemann(2). HBP - by Hagemann (Johnson). CI - Wright, K.. Pitches/strikes: Hagemann 127/88; Cervantes 93/65. Umpires - Start: 11:43 pm Time: 1:55 Attendance: Game: NU4