Huskers Hand Revelle 700th Husker Win

Lincoln - It was a historic home opener for the 14th-ranked Nebraska softball team in a 14-0 five-inning victory over South Dakota Wednesday in game one of a doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium.

Beginning its 10th season at Bowlin Stadium, the Huskers' 14 runs and 14-run victory were both stadium records. The 14 runs were also the most runs Nebraska has scored in any game since a 21-run outburst against Illinois in 2006.

From an individual standpoint, the win gave Head Coach Rhonda Revelle her 700th victory at Nebraska. Revelle joins former baseball coach John Sanders as the only two coaches to win 700 games as a Husker.

The Husker offense fueled the victory, scoring at least two runs in every inning. Nebraska sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning, seven in the second, 10 in the third and five in the fourth. Five Huskers had two hits in the win to pace Nebraska's 12-hit attack. Six Huskers produced an RBI, led by junior Ashley Guile and freshman Tatum Edwards, who each produced four RBIs.

The offensive explosion overshadowed another impressive effort from junior right-hander Ashley Hagemann. Hagemann won her 14th straight decision to improve to 15-1 on the year. She tossed a two-hit shutout and added nine strikeouts without allowing a walk.

The win was Nebraska's eighth straight and improved the Huskers' overall record to 20-2, continuing the best start in school history. The loss snapped South Dakota's five-game win streak, as the Coyotes fell to 9-9 on the year. Mel Johnson (3-3) pitched a complete-game in a losing effort.

Nebraska jumped out to an early lead with a two-out rally in the bottom of the first. After the first two batters were quickly retired, the next six Huskers reached base safely. Freshman Taylor Edwards drew a four-pitch walk to start the rally and senior Julie Brechtel followed with a single. A walk to sophomore Brooke Thomason loaded the bases for Tatum Edwards. After hitting a three-run homer in her first career at bat against Portland State on Feb. 10, Edwards made the most of her first at bat at Bowlin Stadium, lining a three-run double to the gap in right center.

Leading 3-0, Guile grounded the next pitch up the middle for an RBI single that scored Tatum Edwards to stretch the lead to 4-0.

The Huskers added to their lead in the second. Junior Nikki Haget and senior Heidi Foland began the inning with back-to-back singles. Haget scored on a one-out RBI single from Brechtel before Thomason walked to load the bases for Tatum Edwards for the second straight inning. Edwards came through again, scoring Foland with an RBI ground out to make it 6-0.

Nebraska plated three more runs in the third. Sophomore Megan Southworth led off with a double and scored two batters later on an RBI infield single from Haget. Foland followed with a walk before Taylor Edwards delivered an RBI single that scored Haget and on the play, an error on the left fielder allowed Foland to score and increase the lead to 9-0.

The Huskers used another two-out rally to tack on three more runs and take a 12-0 lead. Two walks and a single left the bases loaded for Guile, who delivered a three-run double to left to clear the bases.

Nebraska wrapped up the scoring in the fourth when sophomore Gabby Banda worked a leadoff walk and scored two batters later on a towering two-run homer from Foland.

The Huskers will look for a doubleheader sweep in game two.

Box Score 2011 Nebraska Softball South Dakota at #14 Nebraska (Game 1) Mar 16, 2011 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

South Dakota 0 (9-9)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ BOYD, Lindsey 3b......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 HALL, Stephanie cf....... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 JOHNSON, Mel p........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 RUDEEN, Alexa 1b......... 2 0 2 0 0 0 6 0 0 BRODERS, Christine ss.... 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 ZMOLEK, Bre c............ 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 LOE, Kassie 2b........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 WUDEL, Katelyn lf........ 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 LUSSMAN, Jessica rf...... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 POLICKY, Paige dp........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 17 0 2 0 0 9 12 5 2

Nebraska 14 (20-2)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Haget, Nikki cf.......... 3 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 McCann, Morgan cf/rf.... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Foland, Heidi 3b......... 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 2 0 Edwards, Taylor c........ 2 2 1 1 1 1 6 0 0 Wright, Kirby c......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Brechtel, Julie 2b....... 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 Thomason, Brooke rf/cf... 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 Edwards, Tatum dp/1b..... 3 2 2 4 0 0 1 0 0 Guile, Ashley 1b/dp...... 3 0 2 4 0 0 2 0 2 Southworth, Megan lf..... 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Drake, Madison lf....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Banda, Gabby ss.......... 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 2 Hagemann, Ashley p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 24 14 12 13 7 3 15 3 5

Score by Innings R H E -------------------------------------- South Dakota........ 000 00 - 0 2 1 Nebraska............ 426 2X - 14 12 0 --------------------------------------

E - WUDEL, K(2). LOB - Coyotes 2; Huskers 5. 2B - RUDEEN, A(6); Edwards, Tat(4); Guile(2); Southworth(4). HR - Foland(1). SB - Foland(5).

South Dakota IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- JOHNSON, Mel........ 4.0 12 14 13 7 3 24 31 120

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Hagemann, Ashley.... 5.0 2 0 0 0 9 17 17 78

Win - Hagemann (15-1). Loss - JOHNSON, M (3-3). Save - None. Pitches/strikes: JOHNSON, M 120/59; Hagemann 78/53. Umpires - Start: 3:03 pm Time: 1:27 Attendance: Game: NU22