Huskers Blank Buckeyes, 10-0

Cathedral City, Calif. - The 18th-ranked Nebraska softball team scored three runs in each of the first three innings to cruise to a 10-0 five-inning victory over Ohio State on Sunday morning at the Cathedral City Classic.

Nebraska scored at least one run in each of its four turns at the plate, and seven of the Huskers' 10 runs scored with two outs. Four Huskers had at least two hits in the game, led by sophomore Megan Southworth's 3-for-3 effort with two RBIs and two runs scored.

NU's 2-3-4 hitters combined to go for 6-for-7 with three runs scored and eight RBIs. Senior Julie Brechtel was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs out of the No. 2 spot, while freshman Taylor Edwards went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs to extend her hitting streak to 11 games. Sophomore Brooke Thomason, batting in the cleanup spot in the order for the first time this season, went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and her first home run of the season.

In the circle, junior right-hander Ashley Hagemann and freshman right-hander Tatum Edwards combined on a one-hitter, narrowly missing only the second combined no-hitter in school history, as Ohio State's first hit came with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Hagemann (10-1) earned the victory, tossing 3.0 hitless innings and striking out four. Edwards went the final 2.0 innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Audrey Plant (0-2) took the loss for Ohio State (4-10). Plant allowed five runs (two earned) on three hits in 1.0 inning. Seven of the 10 runs the Buckeyes allowed were unearned, as Ohio State committed three errors.

The Huskers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Junior Nikki Haget reached on an error to begin the inning and moved up to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Brechtel. Taylor Edwards then lined a 1-2 pitch into the gap in right center for an RBI double. Thomason then blasted the next pitch to right center for a two-run homer.

In the bottom of the second, Tatum Edwards reached on an error and  Southworth singled to put runners on first and second with no outs and force a pitching change. Sophomore Gabby Banda then sacrificed the runners to second and third before Brechtel delivered a two-out, two-run double to score both runners and give Nebraska a 5-0 lead. After a hit batter, Thomason delivered her third RBI of the game with an RBI single to center that brought Brechtel home.

The Huskers continued to light up the scoreboard in the third. Junior Ashley Guile reached on an error to get things started. With one out, freshman pinch-runner Morgan McCann advanced to second on a passed ball. Southworth then laced an RBI double to left center that one-hopped the wall and scored McCann to give Nebraska a 7-0 lead. Brechtel made it 8-0 with a one-out infield single that scored Southworth and the lead increased to 9-0 on an RBI single up the middle from Taylor Edwards.

NU made it 10-0 in the top of the fifth. Foland was hit by a pitch to begin the frame and was at second base with two outs after advancing a base when Tatum Edwards flew out to the fence in right. Southworth then delivered her third hit of the game, an RBI single up the middle to score Foland.

Nebraska (13-2) is scheduled to close play at the Cathedral City Classic against Long Island. Due to the Huskers' travel plans, no new inning in that game will start after 2:30 p.m. (Central).