LINCOLN ‹ The Nebraska softball team broke out of a slump in a big way in game two of Monday's doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium, as the Huskers pounded out a season-high 14 hits while sophomore right-hander Alex Hupp did not allow an earned run as NU snapped a six-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over Northern Iowa.
Northern Iowa rallied to win the first game, 2-1.
Nebraska's 14 hits in the second game were its most since February 2006, while Hupp became the first NU pitcher to not allow an earned run in seven games. Although the Huskers still stranded eight runners, Nebraska scored six times after plating just five combined runs during its losing streak.
Hupp (7-6) tossed a four-hitter and allowed only a pair of unearned runs to lead Nebraska (14-16) to a winning month of March. Jen Larsen (3-8) took the loss for Northern Iowa, which fell to 12-17 on the season. In four innings of work, Larsen was tagged for four runs (three earned) on nine hits.
Freshman Julie Brechtel paced Nebraska's 14-hit attack with a 3-for-3 day, while junior Crystal Carwile finished 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs and fellow junior Halley Long hit a pair of doubles.
Just as they did in game one, the Huskers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a single run in the bottom of the first. Junior Darcy Rutherford singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice and eventually scored on an RBI single off the bat of Carwile. The Huskers had a chance to add more as they loaded the bases with only one out before freshman Kelli Linke grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Northern Iowa answered right back to take the lead in the top of the second, courtesy of a Nebraska miscue. With two outs, a passed ball on strike three kept the inning alive before an infield single and a blooper to left scored a pair for the Panthers.
NU got two more hits in the bottom of the inning, but left runners stranded at second and third.
Nebraska pulled even in the bottom of the third when Linke delivered a two-out single to score Long from second. Linke tried to advance to second on the throw home and was ruled safe, before the umpires conferred and ruled her out.
The Huskers added two more runs with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. With runners on second and third, junior Meghan Mullin slapped a ball to short, where Sarah Bakey took her best chance to record an out by throwing home. Her throw was not only late but wild, allowing both Brechtel and sophomore Whitney Barrett to score and put NU in front 4-2.
NU continued to break out of its offense slump in the fifth, as Carwile belted Nebraska's first home run in 17 games to lead off the inning. A double and a pair of singles plated another run to put the Huskers on top 6-2.
After surrendering the two unearned runs in the second, Hupp did not allow a runner past first base over her final five innings.
In the first game, a costly error combined with Northern Iowa's only three hits of the game led to a two-run sixth inning for the Panthers, as UNI snapped Nebraska's 44-game win streak in non-conference doubleheaders with a come-from-behind victory.
The loss was Nebraska's sixth straight, marking the Huskers' longest losing streak since 1994. Junior right-hander Molly Hill (6-6) took the loss, despite a solid outing. In a complete-game effort, Hill allowed two runs (one earned) on just three hits while striking out a season high 12 for NU (13-16).
Sarah Bakey (3-3) earned the win in relief for Northern Iowa (12-16). In four innings, Bakey allowed three hits and walked one, but she kept the Huskers off the scoreboard.
Nebraska returns to action again on Wednesday, when the Huskers host South Dakota State for another doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium beginning at 4 p.m.
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