Hupp Pitches Huskers Past Vikings

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Honolulu, Hawaii ? Freshman Alex Hupp looked anything like a rookie pitcher making her first career start, facing the minimum through five and taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning in a masterful one-hit shutout as the 15th-ranked Nebraska softball team defeated PortlandState 1-0 on Friday at the Paradise Classic.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Hupp (1-0) became the first Husker to throw a shutout in her collegiate debut since All-American Peaches James began her fabulous career with a 3-0 win over UNLV on Feb. 9, 2001. Hupp's effort came against a Portland State squad that returns the majority of its starting lineup from the 2006 squad that won a game in the NCAA Tournament.

 

Hupp retired the first nine batters she faced before the first Viking reached base on an error. A double play erased that baserunner as Hupp retired the next five hitters before a Brandi Scoggins single through the right side ended the no-hit bid.

 

That proved to be the only hit Hupp would need to work around on the day. After Scoggins singled, a one-out walk put runners on first and second for leadoff hitter Stephanie Bean. Hupp quickly worked ahead in the count 1-2, but Bean fouled off three two-strike pitches before striking out swinging. Hupp then coaxed a pop out to end the threat.

 

In her complete-game effort, Hupp struck out five and walked only one while allowing just the one hit. Scoggins’ single was not only PortlandState’s lone hit of the game but was also the only ball to leave the infield against Hupp.

 

"That game was all about Alex Hupp," head coach Rhonda Revelle said. "She was on the mound with a mission and wasn't going to be denied. What a first great victory to throw a one-hit shutout."

 

With Hupp dominant in the circle, the NU offense did just enough to make her a winner. Just as they did in their first two games yesterday, the Huskers got a pair of runners on in the first inning. Sophomore Meghan Mullin and senior Jamie Waldecker recorded back-to-back one-out singles before a fielder’s choice and a line out ended the inning.

 

In the top of the second, sophomore Crystal Carwile fell behind in the count 1-2 before lacing a leadoff double to the gap in right center. Freshman Whitney Barrett moved Carwile to third with a sacrifice slap and Carwile scored the game’s only run one out later on a wild pitch.

 

While Hupp was in a groove for Nebraska, PortlandState starter Mandy Hill settled into a groove of her own for the Vikings after the first two innings. Hill retired eight straight batters and allowed only a pair of singles over the final five innings.

 

After Hill had retired 14 of 16 Husker hitters, NU mounted a final threat in the top of the seventh. Barrett drew a walk and freshman Crystal Gonzalez reached on an infield single to put runners at first and second with only one out, but a pop out and ground out left them stranded.

 

Hill (0-2) took the loss for PortlandState, which fell to 0-3 heading into its final game of pool play against No. 24 Auburn.

 

Although Nebraska managed just one run, the Huskers did produce six hits and struck out only once after striking out 18 times in two games on Thursday.

 

Long recorded the first multi-hit game of her career, finishing 2-for-3. She singled in each of her first two at bats to give her three consecutive singles to open her Husker career.

 

Nebraska (2-1) wraps up its pool play portion of the tournament against undefeated DePaul at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Nebraska 1 (2-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Porter, Devin ss......... 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 3 Mullin, Meghan rf........ 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Waldecker, Jamie c....... 3 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 0 Pascale, Brittany dp..... 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Hupp, Alex p............. 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 Carwile, Crystal 1b...... 3 1 1 0 0 0 10 0 0 Barrett, Whitney 2b...... 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 Gonzalez, Crystal cf..... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Long, Haley lf........... 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kier, Carmen 3b/pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 Totals................... 25 1 6 0 2 1 21 10 6

Portland State 0 (0-3)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ BEAN, Stephanie ss....... 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 0 SEGALL, Laura cf......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SKINNER, De'Chauna ph... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 HILL, Mandy p............ 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 HEIDE, Jackie rf/dp...... 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 TAYLOR, Sammy dp/rf...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SLAYTON, Jana Rae 1b..... 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 SCOGGINS, Brandi c....... 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 MAIELUA, Jessica pr..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 STOKES, Katie 3b......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 RAUCH, Jamee 2b.......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 HESS, Christy ph........ 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 DANIEL, Kimi lf.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 21 0 1 0 1 5 21 14 2

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 010 000 0 - 1 6 1 Portland State...... 000 000 0 - 0 1 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Kier(2); STOKES, K.. DP - Cornhuskers 1. LOB - Cornhuskers 6; Vikings 2. 2B - Carwile(2). SH - Barrett(1); STOKES, K.. CS - Long(1).

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hupp, Alex.......... 7.0 1 0 0 1 5 21 23 90

Portland State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- HILL, Mandy......... 7.0 6 1 1 2 1 25 28 102

Win - Hupp (1-0). Loss - HILL, M. (0-2). Save - None. WP - HILL, M.. Pitches/strikes: Hupp 90/54; HILL, M. 102/60. Umpires - HP: John Burke 1B: Kevin Davis 3B: John Park Start: 10:00 am Time: 1:47 Attendance: 150 Game: NU3