Huskers Upset No. 18 Stanford in Nine Innings

Tempe, Ariz. - Sophomore Megan Southworth delivered a walk-off RBI double with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Nebraska softball team a 3-2 victory over 18th-ranked Stanford on Saturday at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.

Nebraska jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run double by freshman Taylor Edwards in the bottom of the third inning. The Huskers held the two-run lead until the top of the seventh, when a leadoff walk, an RBI triple and an RBI single allowed the Cardinal to tie the game.

Junior right-hander Ashley Hagemann did an outstanding job holding Stanford scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings, when a runner began both innings at second base in accordance with the international tie breaker. A great defensive play prevented Nebraska from winning in the bottom of the eighth, but Southworth made sure Nebraska would get the victory one inning later.

Freshman Tatum Edwards began the inning at second base and senior Heidi Foland just got under the first pitch of the inning, lifting a high fly ball to center for the first out. Southworth then ripped a ground ball just inside the third base bag, down the line and into dead-ball territory for a walk-off double.

The double made a winner out of Hagemann, who relieved junior starter Haley Workman. Hagemann (3-1) allowed two runs on only three hits in 5.0 innings, while adding eight strikeouts. Workman earned the start and did not allow a run in 4.0-plus innings. She surrendered only three hits and worked around four walks with the help of three timely strikeouts. Together, the duo combined for a six-hitter and struck out 11 to help Nebraska improve to 4-1 on the season.

Teagan Gerhart (1-1) took the loss for Stanford, which dropped to 2-1 on the year. In a complete-game effort, Gerhart allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in 8.1 innings.

After a scoreless first two innings, Nebraska jumped on the board with clutch hitting in the bottom of the third. Junior Nikki Haget reached on a one-out single and senior Julie Brechtel was then hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Following a strikeout, Taylor Edwards ripped a two-run double to the gap in right center to put her team in front 2-0.

Stanford threatened to answer back in the top of the fourth. An error and a single put runners at first and second with only one out. Workman then struck out the next batter before a single loaded the bases. She then escaped the jam with another strikeout.

Workman then walked the first batter she faced in the top of the fifth and was relieved by Hagemann, who quickly registered three outs to preserve the lead.

In the top of the sixth, a pair of Husker errors allowed the first two batters to reach safely. But following a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners to second and third, Hagemann dug down and struck out the next two batters to keep the Cardinal scoreless.

Stanford did crack the scoreboard in the top of the seventh. Hagemann walked the leadoff batter before Ashley Hansen hit a sinking line drive to center that eluded a diving Haget for an RBI triple. Hansen then scored the tying run when Jenna Rich hit a line drive to short where Gabby Banda made a nice leaping effort for the grab, but the ball glanced off the top of her glove for a game-tying RBI single. Hagemann then retired two of the next three hitters to keep the game tied.

In the bottom of the inning, junior Madison Drake pinch ran for junior Ashley Guile and began the inning on second base. After an intentional walk to Taylor Edwards, sophomore Brooke Thomason laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. Tatum Edwards then hit a blooper to shallow left field that appeared headed for a game-winning single. Junior Saige Wright raced home from third for the would-be winning run, but Hansen made a spectacular diving catch for the out and threw to third to double off Wright.

In the top of the ninth, Hagemann recorded a pair of strikeouts and a ground out to keep the game tied and set the stage for Southworth's dramatics in the bottom of the frame.

The Huskers wrap up their opening season of play with a single game against Oregon State at 1:30 p.m. (Central) on Sunday.

2011 Nebraska Softball #18 Stanford vs Nebraska Feb 12, 2011 at Tempe, Ariz. (Tempe Sports Complex)

Stanford 2 (2-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Hassman, Sarah cf........ 1 1 0 0 3 0 6 0 1 Hansen, Ashley ss........ 4 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 0 Rich, Jenna 2b........... 5 0 1 1 0 0 2 2 1 Hanewich, Corey lf....... 5 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 3 Miller, Danielle dp...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Edwards, Jaquilyn pr.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Van Zandt, Alix dp...... 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gerhart, Teagan p........ 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Becerra, Jenna 3b........ 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 2 Burns, Maya c............ 3 0 1 0 0 1 5 1 1 Koutz, Melisa 1b......... 3 0 0 0 1 3 6 0 5 Breen, Caitlin rf/pr..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals................... 32 2 6 2 5 11 25 8 13

Nebraska 3 (3-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki cf.......... 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 1 1 0 0 0 7 1 0 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 Wright, Saige pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Edwards, Taylor c........ 3 0 1 2 1 0 11 0 1 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 Edwards, Tatum dp........ 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 0 Southworth, Megan lf..... 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 Banda, Gabby ss.......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 Muir, Kylee ph.......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Workman, Haley p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hagemann, Ashley p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Totals................... 30 3 6 3 1 5 27 9 9

Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------- Stanford............ 000 000 200 - 2 6 0 Nebraska............ 002 000 001 - 3 6 3 -------------------------------------------

Note: 1 out, 1 runner LOB when the game ended.

E - Brechtel(1); Banda(1); Workman(1). DP - Cardinal 1; Huskers 1. LOB - Cardinal 13; Huskers 9. 2B - Edwards, Tay(2); Southworth(1). 3B - Hansen. HBP - Brechtel 2; Guile. SH - Hassman; Becerra; Burns; Thomason(1).

Stanford IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Gerhart, Teagan..... 8.1 6 3 2 1 5 30 35 114

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Workman, Haley...... 4.0 3 0 0 4 3 14 19 77 Hagemann, Ashley.... 5.0 3 2 2 1 8 18 21 78

Win - Hagemann (3-1). Loss - Gerhart, T. (1-1). Save - None. HBP - by Gerhart, T. (Brechtel); by Gerhart, T. (Guile); by Gerhart, T. (Brechtel). Pitches/strikes: Gerhart, T. 114/76; Workman 77/41; Hagemann 78/55. Umpires - Start: 4:29 pm Time: 2:33 Attendance: Workman faced 1 batter in the 5th. Game: NU5