Huskers Complete Sweep of South Dakota

Lincoln - Another dominant pitching performance from Ashley Hagemann and a six-run fourth inning powered the Nebraska softball team to complete a doubleheader sweep of South Dakota on Tuesday with an 8-0, five-inning victory in the nightcap.

Hagemann, who has started Nebraska's last 14 games in the circle, dominated the Coyote lineup for the second straight game. After throwing a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts in game one, Hagemann fired a two-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts in only 5.0 innings in game two. The senior right-hander won her fourth consecutive decision to even her record at 10-10 on the season.

With Hagemann tossing her second straight shutout and her third in four games, Nebraska's offense gave her all the support she would need in a six-run fourth inning. Freshman Mattie Fowler got the rally started with a one-out single that was followed by a walk to junior Courtney Breault.

Senior Madison Drake then ripped the first pitch she saw to the gap in left center for a two-run double to give Nebraska a 2-0 lead. Classmate Nikki Haget followed with a single before junior Gabby Banda produced an RBI double to left.

Leading 3-0 with runners at second and third, sophomore Taylor Edwards laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to bring home Nebraska's fourth run. On the play, a throwing error allowed Edwards to reach base safely and Banda to score. Then with two outs, sophomore Tatum Edwards brought her twin sister home with an RBI single that pushed the lead to 6-0.

Breault then ended the game one-inning later with a walk-off two-run homer that scored Fowler, who had singled to lead off the inning.

Banda paced Nebraska's 10-hit attack with a 3-for-3 day that included a double and an RBI. Banda has now produced three hits in three consecutive games, combining to go 9-for-10 in that stretch. Fowler and Haget added two hits apiece, while Breault and Drake each drove in a pair of runs.

With the win, Nebraska improved to 2-0 at home and 15-12 overall. Missy Blackburn (3-6) took the loss for South Dakota (4-20). Blackburn allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits in 3.1 innings.

The Huskers are off for a week, returning to action next Tuesday at Nebraska-Omaha.

Box Score

2012 Nebraska Softball South Dakota at Nebraska (Game 2) Mar 13, 2012 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

South Dakota 0 (4-20)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Lindsey Boyd 3b.......... 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 Katie Dinning rf......... 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 Alexa Rudeen 1b.......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Allie Daly c............. 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 Brooke Schaben dp........ 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 Christine Broders ss..... 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 0 Kassie Loe 2b............ 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 Kate Snow lf............. 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 Stephanie Hall cf........ 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 Missy Blackburn p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Paige Policky p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 17 0 2 0 1 12 12 1 3

Nebraska 8 (15-12)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki cf.......... 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 Edwards, Taylor c........ 2 1 0 1 0 1 12 0 0 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Edwards, Tatum dp........ 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 5 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Fowler, Mattie ss........ 3 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 Breault, Courtney 2b..... 2 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 Drake, Madison lf........ 2 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 22 8 10 7 3 1 15 1 6

Score by Innings R H E -------------------------------------- South Dakota........ 000 00 - 0 2 1 Nebraska............ 000 62 - 8 10 0 --------------------------------------

E - Blackburn(1). LOB - Coyotes 3; Huskers 6. 2B - Banda(7); Drake(7). HR - Breault(1). SH - Edwards, Tay(1).

South Dakota IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Missy Blackburn..... 3.1 7 6 4 3 1 17 21 75 Paige Policky....... 0.2 3 2 2 0 0 5 5 18

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 5.0 2 0 0 1 12 17 18 80

Win - Hagemann (10-10). Loss - Blackburn (3-6). Save - None. Pitches/strikes: Blackburn 75/47; Policky 18/11; Hagemann 80/54. Umpires - HP: Matt Titkemeier 1B: Jeff Sloan 3B: Renee Williams Start: 6:23 pm Time: 1:38 Attendance: 1036 Policky faced 2 batters in the 5th. Game: NEB27