Husker Offense Explodes in 15-2 Road Win

Las Cruces, N.M. - Sophomore Tatum Edwards tied a school record with seven RBIs and hit two of Nebraska's four home runs, as the 22nd-ranked Huskers handed New Mexico State its first loss of the season, 15-2 on Friday night.

Tatum finished 3-for-4 with a pair of homers, three runs scored and seven RBIs. The seven RBIs matched Jenny Smith for the most RBIs in a seven-inning game in Husker history. Her twin sister Taylor finished 2-for-5 with a home run of her own, while junior Brooke Thomason was 2-for-4 with a home run.

Overall, Nebraska recorded a season-high 17 hits in the victories, while producing a season-high 15 runs. The Huskers totaled double-digit hits and scored at least 10 runs for the fifth time in eight games this season. Leading the hit parade was senior Nikki Haget, who went 4-for-4 with a walk and an RBI, while tying her career high in hits. Ten Huskers scored a run in the victory, seven produced an RBI and six finished with at least two hits.

Nebraska's offense came alive late, scoring 12 runs over the final three innings, including seven runs in the seventh. The offensive barrage overshadowed an impressive outing from senior right-hander Ashley Hagemann, who was outstanding against a New Mexico State offense that was averaging nearly 11 runs per game heading into the contest. In a complete-game effort, Hagemann (2-2) allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out 14, while walking only two.

Alex Newman (5-1) took the loss for the Aggies, who fell to 6-1 on the year. Newman allowed five runs on 10 hits in 4.2 innings.

The Huskers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Haget began the game with a leadoff single and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Gabby Banda. Taylor Edwards followed with another single to put runners on first and third with one out. Haget then scored on an RBI ground out from senior Ashley Guile, before Tatum Edwards crushed a two-run homer down the left-field line to push the lead to 3-0.

New Mexico State mounted its first scoring threat in the bottom of the fourth. A leadoff walk and back-to-back singles loaded the bases with none out. But Hagemann worked out of the jam, getting an infield pop out and consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.

Taylor Edwards then blasted a 2-0 pitch to left center for a solo home run to lead off the top of the fifth. With two outs, Thomason ripped an 0-2 pitch the opposite way for another solo home run that stretched the lead to 5-0.

The Aggies got the two runs back in the bottom of the frame. Back-to-back slap singles and a passed ball put runners at second and third with none out. Following a strikeout, Tiare Jennings lined a two-run single into center field. An infield single then put runners on first and second with one out before Hagemann struck out the next two hitters.

The Huskers made it 8-2 with three more runs in the top of the sixth. A walk to Banda and a single from Guile set the stage for Tatum Edwards to blast her second home run of the game.

Then in the seventh, Nebraska batted around and scored six times to take a 13-2 lead. A single from Drake and back-to-back walks to freshman Mattie Fowler and classmate Jordan Bettiol loaded the bases with none out. Haget then came to the plate looking to tie the school record with her fifth hit, but happily settled for an RBI walk that brought Drake home. Three batters later, Guile worked another bases-loaded walk to make it 10-2. Tatum Edwards then delivered a two-run single to left field to tie the school record with seven RBIs.

A walk to Thomason loaded the bases again before Drake delivered her second hit of the inning, an RBI single to make it 13-2. Fowler then lined a two-run double into the right field corner for Nebraska's fourth hit of the fame.

Nebraska (5-3) returns to action tomorrow with back-to-back games against Stephen F. Austin and Weber State beginning at 10:30 a.m. (Central).

Box Score 2012 Nebraska Softball #22 Nebraska at New Mexico State Feb 17, 2012 at Las Cruces, N.M. (NMSU Softball Cmplx)

Nebraska 15 (5-3)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki 2b.......... 4 2 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 2 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 Edwards, Taylor c........ 5 1 2 1 0 0 14 0 3 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 4 2 1 2 1 0 3 0 0 Workman, Haley pr....... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Edwards, Tatum dp........ 4 3 3 7 1 0 0 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 4 2 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 Drake, Madison lf........ 5 1 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 Fowler, Mattie ss........ 3 1 2 2 2 0 1 1 2 Bettiol, Jordan cf....... 3 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 Southworth, Megan ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 35 15 17 15 9 3 21 2 9

New Mexico State 2 (6-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Olive, Amber rf.......... 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 Rodriguez, Staci lf...... 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 Javillo, Shaleese lf.... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jennings, Tiare 1b....... 3 0 2 2 1 0 7 0 0 Swedberg, Valerie cf..... 4 0 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 Dodd, Kelsey dp.......... 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 Dohrwardt, Chelsea pr... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tovio-Asato, Briana 3b... 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Kaaihue, Tehani 2b....... 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 4 Padilla, Malena ph...... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Ruiz, Alyssa c........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 0 Conrad, Teresa ph....... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 Covarrubia, K. ss........ 3 1 1 0 0 2 5 1 0 Newman, Alex p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Schueler, Kelsey p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Williard, Sydney p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 30 2 8 2 2 13 21 8 9

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 300 023 7 - 15 17 1 New Mexico State.... 000 020 0 - 2 8 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Hagemann(1); Kaaihue, T.. DP - Aggies 1. LOB - Huskers 9; Aggies 9. 2B - Drake(1); Fowler(1). HR - Edwards, Tay(2); Edwards, Tat 2(3); Thomason(1). SH - Banda(1). SB - Fowler(1). CS - Haget 2(3).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 7.0 8 2 1 2 13 30 32 138

New Mexico State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Newman, Alex........ 4.2 10 5 5 2 2 22 25 81 Schueler, Kelsey.... 1.1 4 6 6 4 0 7 11 45 Williard, Sydney.... 1.0 3 4 4 3 1 6 9 32

Win - Hagemann (2-2). Loss - Newman, A. (5-1). Save - None. PB - Edwards, Tay(2). Pitches/strikes: Hagemann 138/98; Newman, A. 81/53; Schueler, K. 45/20; Williard, S. 32/15. Umpires - Start: 6:45 pm Time: 2:51 Attendance: Schueler, K. faced 3 batters in the 7th. Game: NEB8