Huskers Fall 2-1 at Creighton

Omaha - The Nebraska softball team couldn't come through with a clutch hit, stranding seven runners in a 2-1 loss at Creighton on Tuesday night at the CU Sports Complex.

The Huskers had numerous scoring chances throughout the game, but could not deliver the key hit. Nebraska had a runner on third with only one out in two separate innings, but failed to score. The Huskers also had a botched squeeze attempt and finished 1-for-14 with runners on base and 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

The lack of clutch hitting spoiled a record-breaking effort from senior right-hander Ashley Hagemann. In a complete-game effort, Hagemann fired a five-hitter and allowed only two runs, while striking out eight. Hagemann (21-14) struck out Allie Mathewson with one out in the bottom of the third inning for her 946th career strikeout, passing former All-American Peaches James as Nebraska's all-time strikeout leader.

Becca Changstrom (16-10) pitched well for Creighton to earn her first career victory over Nebraska. Changstrom tossed a six-hitter and allowed only a fifth-inning home run to freshman Mattie Fowler.

With the win, Creighton snapped a six-game losing streak to Nebraska to improve to 26-19-1 on the season. The Huskers fell to 29-17 with the loss.

Nebraska stranded a pair of runners with only one out in the top of the first inning before Creighton took advantage of a similar opportunity in the bottom of the frame. A leadoff double and a walk put Bluejays at first and second for Amy Baker, who delivered an RBI single up the middle on a 3-1 offering. Leading 1-0, Creighton had runners on second and third with only one out, before Hagemann retired the next two batters without allowing another run to score.

After turning a controversial double play to end the bottom of the second inning, senior Nikki Haget led off the top of the third with a double down the left field line. Junior Gabby Banda moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt before sophomore Taylor Edwards was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with only one out. Senior Ashley Guile then attempted to lay down a squeeze but missed and after a lengthy rundown, Haget was tagged out trying to come home. Guile then popped out to end the threat.

The Huskers tied the game in the top of the fifth but missed an opportunity to take the lead. Fowler lined the first pitch of the inning over the wall in left for a game-tying solo home run. Senior Madison Drake then doubled down the right field line and moved to third with one out on a sacrifice bunt from Haget. But Nebraska stranded Drake at third as a pair of foul outs ended the inning.

Nebraska continued to miss chances in the sixth, after stranding runners at first and second with one out.

Amy Baker then led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run that proved to be the difference.

Haget reached on a one-out single in the top of the seventh - her third hit of the game - to give the Huskers a chance, before Changstrom retired the final two hitters.

Haget finished 3-for-3 with a sacrifice, while Fowler hit her fourth home run of the year. Nebraska out-hit Creighton, 6-5.

After posting a 4-4 record on its eight-game road trip, Nebraska returns home this weekend to host Michigan State in a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at Bowlin Stadium.

Box Score

2012 Nebraska Softball Nebraska at Creighton Apr 25, 2012 at Omaha, Neb. (CU Sports Complex)

Nebraska 1 (29-18)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki cf.......... 3 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 Banda, Gabby 3b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 Edwards, Taylor c........ 2 0 0 0 1 0 9 0 2 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 Bettiol, Jordan pr...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 Edwards, Tatum dp........ 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Breault, Courtney 2b..... 2 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 Fowler, Mattie ss........ 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 Drake, Madison lf........ 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 25 1 7 1 2 3 18 3 8

Creighton 2 (26-19-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Homan, Ellen lf.......... 3 1 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 Mathewson, Allie 1b...... 2 0 1 0 1 1 3 0 0 Cantu, Alexis dp......... 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 Baker, Amy c............. 3 1 2 2 0 0 3 1 1 Lingl, Bri rf............ 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Perry, Emily rf......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Lowe, Blair 2b........... 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 3 2 Snygg, Sammy 3b.......... 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 2 0 Setlik, McKenna ph...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dike, Liz ss............. 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 1 1 Ruf, Christa cf.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Changstrom, Becca p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Totals................... 21 2 5 2 3 8 21 7 5

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 000 010 0 - 1 7 1 Creighton........... 100 001 X - 2 5 0 -----------------------------------------

E - Hagemann(2). DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Huskers 8; Bluejays 5. 2B - Haget(3); Drake(8); Homan. HR - Fowler(4); Baker. HBP - Edwards, Tay. SH - Haget(8); Banda(6); Setlik. CS - Haget(5).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 6.0 5 2 2 3 8 21 25 116

Creighton IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Changstrom, Becca... 7.0 7 1 1 2 3 25 30 116

Win - Changstrom (16-10). Loss - Hagemann (21-14). Save - None. HBP - by Changstrom (Edwards, Tay). Pitches/strikes: Hagemann 116/65; Changstrom 116/79. Umpires - HP: Scott Mair 1B: Joe Havenhill 3B: Kevin Killingsworth Start: 6:01 pm Time: 1:56 Attendance: 594 Game: livegame