Huskers Hand Top-Ranked Florida First Loss

Clearwater, Fla. - Behind a two-hit shutout from junior right-hander Ashley Hagemann, the 16th-ranked Nebraska softball team handed No. 1 Florida its first loss of the season, 1-0, in Clearwater, Fla., on Saturday night.

The win over the Gators marked Nebraska's first win over a top-ranked team in program history, as the Huskers were 0-9 all-time against the No. 1 team before Saturday's victory. With the win, Nebraska improved to 18-2 on the season to achieve the best 20-game record in school history. The win was also the Huskers' fourth straight over a ranked opponent and second consecutive victory against a top-10 foe.

Nebraska plated the game's only run just three batters into the game. Junior Nikki Haget scored the winning run when freshman Taylor Edwards singled to left and Gator left fielder Kelsey Bruder misplayed the hop, allowing Haget to score.

That was more than enough for Hagemann, who won her 13th straight decision to improve to 14-1 on the season. Hagemann took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished with eight strikeouts. The Elkhorn native tossed her second straight shutout against a top-10 team after throwing a one-hit shutout of then-No. 10 Hawaii on Feb. 25.

Hagemann did not allow a runner to reach third base in the game and only two Gators advanced to second base. No Florida runner had reached second base before there were two outs in the inning until Megan Bush led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double.

Hagemann bounced back from the double by striking out the next batter before the game ended in dramatic fashion. With the tying runner on second and one out, Cheyenne Coyle hit a sinking line drive to shallow center field. Haget sprinted in and made a sliding catch, got to her feet and threw to sophomore shortstop Gabby Banda, who stepped on the second-base bag to complete a game-ending double play.

Hannah Rogers took the loss for the Gators, which saw their 24-game win streak snapped. Rogers (10-1) tossed a four-hitter, striking out three and allowing only unearned run. Florida had just run-ruled Ball State, 21-0, in five innings before playing the Huskers.  

Head Coach Rhonda Revelle was excited for Nebraska's first win over a top-five team since 2004.

"I just thought from the very first pitch of the game that we had a presence about us that we believed we could win and we were playing to win," Revelle said. "Ashley (Hagemann) worked very masterfully in executing a game plan against a remarkable hitting team. That was a great softball game...it had a College World Series feel."

Nebraska wraps up play in its final tournament on Sunday against Central Connecticut State.

Box Score 2011 Nebraska Softball #16 Nebraska vs #1 Florida Mar 12, 2011 at Clearwater, Fla. (Eddie C. Moore Cmplx) Nebraska 1 (18-2) Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki cf.......... 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 Edwards, Taylor c........ 2 0 1 0 1 0 8 2 0 McCann, Morgan pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Guile, Ashley 1b......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 3 Edwards, Tatum dp........ 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Southworth, Megan lf..... 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 Banda, Gabby ss.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 24 1 4 0 2 3 21 4 5 Florida 0 (24-1) Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Michelle Moultrie cf..... 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 Aja Paculba 2b........... 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 Kelsey Bruder lf......... 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 1 Brittany Schutte c....... 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 Megan Bush 1b............ 3 0 1 0 0 0 11 0 2 Ellie Langley pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kelsey Horton rf......... 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 Cheyenne Coyle ss........ 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 Ensley Gammel dp......... 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Kasey Fagan 3b........... 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 Hannah Rogers p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Totals................... 22 0 2 0 3 8 21 10 4 Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 100 000 0 - 1 4 1 Florida............. 000 000 0 - 0 2 1 ----------------------------------------- E - Banda(6); Bruder(1). DP - Huskers 1. LOB - Huskers 5; Gators 4. 2B - Edwards, Tat(3); Southworth(3); Bush(5). SH - Brechtel(6). CS - Fagan(2). Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 7.0 2 0 0 3 8 22 25 112 Florida IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hannah Rogers....... 7.0 4 1 0 2 3 24 27 100 Win - Hagemann (14-1). Loss - Rogers (10-1). Save - None. Pitches/strikes: Hagemann 112/71; Rogers 100/75. Umpires - Start: 8:03 pm Time: 1:47 Attendance: Game: NU20