Huskers Fall to No. 8 Texas

Cathedral City, Calif. - Bad breaks and an impressive pitching performance from Rachel Fox doomed the 22nd-ranked Nebraska softball team in a 3-0 loss to No. 8 Texas in the first of two games on Sunday.

The only scoring on the game came in the Longhorns' three-run sixth inning. During the decisive frame, Texas scored three times on only one hit, a leadoff double from Kim Bruins.

Following a sacrifice bunt that moved Bruins to third, Brejae Washington then slapped a ball to freshman Mattie Fowler at short. Fowler threw home, but Nebraska was unable to get an out on the play as the runner retreated back to third base safely. On the play, Washington took second and the Huskers then intentionally walked Lexy Bennet, Texas' No. 3 hitter, to load the bases with one out.

Hagemann quickly jumped ahead of Courtney Craig, the next batter, before hitting Craig with a 2-2 pitch to force in the game's first run. Thom then brought a second run home with a sacrifice fly to shallow right field that forced freshman Jordan Bettiol to go into a slide to catch. Bettiol's throw to home was late and got away from Edwards, allowing the runners to move to second and third.

That proved large one batter later, when senior right-hander Ashley Hagemann struck out Nadia Taylor on a pitch in the dirt. Sophomore catcher Taylor Edwards collected the ball and looked back at the home plate umpire, before rolling the ball back to the circle assuming it was the third out. Unfortunately for the Huskers, the umpire ruled the pitch had hit the ground and Nebraska needed to throw to first to complete the strikeout. The Huskers were unable to do that and the third run of the inning came home from third.

The three-run inning was more than enough for Fox, who helped Texas improve to 12-1 on the season. Fox fired a three-hit shout, working around three walks and fanning three. After Nebraska stranded six base runners over the first four innings - including three runners in scoring position - Fox allowed only one hit and just two base runners over the final 4.0 innings.

Hagemann took the loss for Nebraska, despite one of her best performances of the season. In her second straight complete-game effort against a top-15 opponent, Hagemann (5-4) tossed a three-hitter and allowed only two earned runs, while striking out six.

In a classic pitcher's duel, Nebraska had more chances through the first five innings, but Texas had the better chances late. The hits were even at 3-3 and Texas stranded six runners, while Nebraska left seven on base. Freshman Mattie Fowler and juniors Gabby Banda and Brooke Thomason produced the Huskers' lone hits.

Nebraska wraps up play at the Cathedral City Classic with a third straight game against a top-15 team, facing No. 5 Washington.

Box Score

2012 Nebraska Softball #8 Texas vs #22 Nebraska Feb 26, 2012 at Cathedral City, CA (Big League Dreams)

Texas 3 (12-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Hoagland, Taylor rf...... 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Washington, Brejae cf.... 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Bennett, Lexy 2b......... 3 1 1 0 1 0 3 1 2 Craig, Courtney lf....... 2 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 1 Thom, Taylor ss.......... 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Taylor, Nadia 3b......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 Smith, Gabby dp.......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Gabaldon, Marlee ph..... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 Ogle, Mandy c............ 3 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 1 Bruins, Kim 1b........... 2 0 1 0 1 0 8 1 0 Schmidt, Torie pr....... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fox, Rachel p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Totals................... 24 3 3 2 3 6 21 5 6

Nebraska 0 (9-6)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki cf.......... 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Edwards, Taylor c........ 2 0 0 0 1 0 6 1 0 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 Edwards, Tatum dp........ 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 Breault, Courtney 2b..... 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 Fowler, Mattie ss........ 3 0 1 0 0 1 3 2 0 Bettiol, Jordan lf....... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Drake, Madison ph....... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Totals................... 23 0 3 0 3 4 21 7 7

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Texas............... 000 003 0 - 3 3 1 Nebraska............ 000 000 0 - 0 3 4 -----------------------------------------

E - Bruins; Edwards, Tay(4); Fowler 2(4); Bettiol(1). LOB - Longhorns 6; Huskers 7. 2B - Bruins. HBP - Craig, C.; Breault. SH - Hoagland; Breault(1). SF - Thom. SB - Bennett. CS - Hoagland.

Texas IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Fox, Rachel......... 7.0 3 0 0 3 4 23 28 114

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 7.0 3 3 2 3 6 24 30 117

Win - Fox (3-0). Loss - Hagemann (5-4). Save - None. HBP - by Fox (Breault); by Hagemann (Craig, C.). Pitches/strikes: Fox 114/74; Hagemann 117/75. Umpires - HP: Rob Hough 1B: James Bertuzzi 3B: Randy Goudy Start: 10:58 am Time: 2:10 Attendance: 300 Game: NEB15