Huskers Complete Doubleheader Sweep of Illinois

Lincoln - The Nebraska softball team completed a doubleheader sweep of Illinois with a 5-1 win in game two on Friday in front of 711 fans at Bowlin Stadium.

With the win, Nebraska improved to 23-14 on the season and moved to 6-2 in Big Ten Conference play. The Huskers also improved to 9-0 at home this season, and Nebraska has now won 12 consecutive home games dating back to last season.

Sophomore right-hander Tatum Edwards (7-3) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits in 5.0 innings. Senior right-hander Ashley Hagemann pitched the final 2.0 innings and did not allow a run, surrendering only one hit.

The Husker offense slugged two more home runs in game two after homering three times in game one. Freshman Mattie Fowler and junior Courtney Breault each belted solo homers in game two. The duo had two of Nebraska's four hits, while Breault scored twice.

The game was scoreless until one out in the bottom of the second inning, when Fowler blasted a 2-0 pitch to left center for a solo home run. Breault followed with a walk before senior Madison Drake put down a sacrifice bunt and the Huskers wound up with runners at second and third following a throwing error on the bunt. Senior Nikki Haget then blooped an infield single over the pitcher's head and Breault came home to score when the Illini second baseman and shortstop collided.

The Huskers loaded the bases with two outs after a walk to sophomore Taylor Edwards. Senior Ashley Guile drew another walk to bring Drake home and make it 3-0. Another bases-loaded walk to Tatum Edwards brought Haget home with the fourth run of the inning.

After Illinois made a pitching change to start the third inning, Breault greeted new hurler Jackie Guy with a one-out solo home run to center to give Nebraska a 5-1 advantage.

Illinois stranded five runners over the first five innings before a hit batter and a walk put runners on first and second with none out in the top of the sixth. Hagemann then relieved Tatum Edwards and retired three of the four batters she faced but not before Jackie Guy delivered a two-out, RBI single to cut the lead to 5-1.

Hagemann then retired the Fighting Illini in order in the seventh. Illinois lost for the seventh straight game and fell to 16-17 overall and 2-6 in league play.

The Huskers and Fighting Illini wrap up their three-game series on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Box Score

2012 Nebraska Softball Illinois at Nebraska (Game 2) Apr 06, 2012 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Illinois 1 (16-17,2-6 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Booker, Alex cf/lf....... 4 0 2 0 0 0 7 0 2 Simpson, Nikki rf........ 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 Hackett, Meredith 1b..... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Loies, L. pr............ 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Perkins, J. 3b........... 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Davis, Jessica ss........ 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 Vaji, Danielle lf/2b..... 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Guy, Jackie dp/p......... 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Cuevas, Stephanie c...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Mychko, Jenna c......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 Schkade, Jamie 2b........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Sanchez, Brittany cf.... 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 Gay, Pepper p/dp......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 25 1 5 1 1 5 18 0 7

Nebraska 5 (23-14,6-2 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki cf.......... 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Edwards, Taylor dp/c..... 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 1 0 0 1 2 0 10 0 0 Edwards, Tatum p/dp...... 2 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 2 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 Fowler, Mattie ss........ 3 1 1 1 0 1 1 6 0 Breault, Courtney 2b..... 2 2 1 1 1 0 2 2 0 Drake, Madison lf........ 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Southworth, Megan ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Wright, Kirby c.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 Hagemann, Ashley p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 22 5 4 5 7 5 21 10 7

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Illinois............ 000 001 0 - 1 5 1 Nebraska............ 041 000 X - 5 4 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Perkins, J.(4). DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Illini 7; Huskers 7. 2B - Banda(13). HR - Fowler(3); Breault(3). HBP - Simpson, N.; Hackett, M.; Cuevas, S.. SH - Drake(4). SB - Booker, A.(5); Vaji, D.(5).

Illinois IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Gay, Pepper......... 2.0 2 4 1 6 2 8 15 71 Guy, Jackie......... 4.0 2 1 1 1 3 14 15 59

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Edwards, Tatum...... 5.0 4 1 1 1 4 18 22 90 Hagemann, Ashley.... 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 7 7 23

Win - Edwards, Tat (7-3). Loss - Gay, P. (11-9). Save - None. HBP - by Edwards, Tat (Cuevas, S.); by Edwards, Tat (Simpson, N.); by Edwards, Tat (Hackett, M.). Pitches/strikes: Gay, P. 71/35; Guy, J. 59/36; Edwards, Tat 90/56; Hagemann 23/17. Umpires - HP: Kevin Killingsworth 1B: Scott Mair 3B: Renee Williams Start: 5:33 pm Time: 2:15 Attendance: 711 Edwards, Tat faced 2 batters in the 6th. Game: NEB37