Nebraska Posts Third Straight Win

Tempe, Ariz. - Another outstanding offensive performance and a strong effort in the circle powered the 20th-ranked Nebraska softball team to its third straight victory, a 10-2 six-inning win over Cal State Northridge in the first of two games Saturday at the Kajikawa Classic.

The Husker offense reached double figures in hits and runs for the third straight game. Nebraska finished with a season-high 15 hits and its 10 runs gave the Huskers a total of 33 runs over the last three games. Senior Ashley Guile led the way with a 4-for-4 effort that included a home run and two RBIs. Guile's four hits tied her career high and she scored four runs to tie the school record.

Junior Courtney Breault went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while classmates Gabby Banda and Brooke Thomason and freshman Jordan Bettiol each had two hits apiece. Sophomore Tatum Edwards added a three-run homer, while freshman Mattie Fowler recorded her first career hit, walked twice and drove in a pair.

In the circle, Tatum Edwards earned the win for Nebraska, improving to 2-0 on the year. Edwards allowed one run on just two hits in 4.0 innings. Senior right-hander Haley Workman pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits.

Alexas Limon (0-2) took the loss for the Matadors (0-3). Limon allowed seven runs on six hits in 1.2 innings.

Cal State Northridge struck first, plating one run in the top of the first. A leadoff walk came around to score on a one-out, RBI single from Jaci Carlsen.

After Cal State Northridge struck first by scoring its only run in the top of the first, the Huskers answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame. Banda reached on a one-out bunt single and sophomore Taylor Edwards followed with a walk. Guile then brought Banda home with an RBI single. Tatum Edwards then blasted a 1-1 pitch to deep left for a three-run homer that put Nebraska on top 4-1.

NU stretched the lead to 5-1 in the second. Taylor Edwards reached on a one-out walk and Guile followed with a single. Then with two outs, Thomason lined an RBI double down the right field line. Fowler made it 7-1 when she drove in a pair with her first career hit, a single to right field.

After Nebraska was held scoreless in the third, Guile led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to right.

The Huskers then had a chance to close it out in five innings when Breault and Bettiol began the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles. But reliever Mia Pagano escaped the jam by retiring the next three hitters.

Cal State Northridge got a run back in the top of the sixth when Alyssa Ray delivered a two-out, RBI double to trim the lead to 8-2.

Nebraska did close it out one inning later. Guile led off the inning with a single and a one-out double from Thomason and a walk to Fowler loaded the bases. Breault then picked up her third hit of the game, an RBI single through the left side that made it 9-2. Bettiol closed out the game with a bloop single down the left field line to score Thomason with the game-ending run.

Nebraska (3-1) returns to action later on Saturday, facing Oregon State at 5:30 p.m. (Central).

Box Score

2012 Nebraska Softball Cal State Northridge vs #20 Nebraska Feb 11, 2012 at Tempe, Ariz. (Tempe Sports Cmpx)

Cal State Northridge 2 (0-3)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Randazzo, Korinne cf..... 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Lopez, Leann rf......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Sloniker, Samantha lf/cf. 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Thielges, Mikayla 1b..... 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 Carlsen, Jaci 2b......... 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 Sale, Madeline c......... 3 0 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 Maas, Crystal dp......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Fridwall, Jessica rf/lf.. 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Ray, Alyssa 3b........... 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 House, Sydney ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Lucero, Tiffini ss....... 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 Linn, Abby ph........... 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Limon, Alexas p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pagano, Mia p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Totals................... 22 2 4 2 3 3 16 3 7

Nebraska 10 (3-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki 2b.......... 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 3 Banda, Gabby ss.......... 4 1 2 0 0 0 4 1 0 Edwards, Taylor c........ 2 2 0 0 2 0 4 1 3 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 4 4 4 2 0 0 5 0 0 Edwards, Tatum p/lf...... 4 1 1 3 0 2 0 1 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 4 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 Fowler, Mattie 3b........ 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 1 0 Breault, Courtney dp..... 4 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 1 Drake, Madison pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bettiol, Jordan cf....... 3 0 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 Southworth, Megan lf..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Workman, Haley p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 31 10 15 10 5 5 18 6 10

Score by Innings R H E --------------------------------------- Cal State Northridge 100 001 - 2 4 0 Nebraska............ 430 102 - 10 15 2 ---------------------------------------

Note: 1 out, 3 runners LOB when the game ended.

E - Haget(1); Banda(2). LOB - Matadors 7; Huskers 10. 2B - Ray; Banda(1); Thomason 2(3); Breault(1). HR - Guile(1); Edwards, Tat(1). HBP - Ray. SH - Sloniker. SB - Randazzo.

Cal State Northridge IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Limon, Alexas....... 1.2 6 7 7 4 1 11 15 56 Pagano, Mia......... 3.2 9 3 3 1 4 20 21 75

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Edwards, Tatum...... 4.0 2 1 1 1 1 14 17 51 Workman, Haley...... 2.0 2 1 1 2 2 8 10 51

Win - Edwards, Tat (2-0). Loss - Limon (0-2). Save - None. HBP - by Edwards, Tat (Ray). Pitches/strikes: Limon 56/27; Pagano 75/48; Edwards, Tat 51/36; Workman 51/31. Umpires - HP: Shelley Douma 1B: John Baca 3B: Brett Higgins Start: 10:01 am Time: 2:07 Attendance: 40 Game: NEB4