OMAHA, Neb. - Hailey Decker had six RBI and Tatum Edwards threw a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts, as No. 18 Nebraska shut out the Omaha softball team, 10-0 (5 inn.) on a windy Wednesday at Westside Field at Westbrook.
Nebraska improved to 21-10 overall, while the Mavericks dropped to 19-11.
Despite the strong wind blowing straight out to center, the Mavs'
Dana Elsasser and Huskers' Tatum Edwards engaged in a pitcher's duel early on, allowing no hits through the first two innings. Elsasser got help from second baseman
Tara Trede when she made a highlight-reel dive and flip with her glove to
Tonya Peterson for an out at second in the top of the third. But the first hit of the game for either team was a long one, as Tatum Edwards blasted a ball to right center with Decker on base for a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.
Trede singled off the pitcher's glove to lead off the bottom of the third for the Mavs, but three straight strikeouts by Tatum Edwards erased the potential threat. That would turn out to be the Mavs' only hit of the game, and Edwards struck out seven of the final 10 Maverick hitters.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the fourth, Decker blooped a single down the right field line to score two more runs and make it 4-0. Tatum Edwards then added another RBI hit with a single to left field for a 5-0 lead.
Sydney Hames started the fourth on first base after an error on the third baseman, but Edwards retired three straight Maverick batters once again to limit any UNO chance of a comeback.
Back-to-back doubles by MJ Knighten and Kiki Stokes gave NU a 6-0 lead to begin the fifth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Decker sent a pitch off the scoreboard in left center to make it 10-0, giving her six RBI on the day on 2-for-4 at the plate. Tatum Edwards was 2-for-3 with three RBI. Taylor Edwards, NU's top hitter entering the game, drew four walks in four at bats and scored twice.
Elsasser (16-5) allowed 10 earned runs on six hits with eight walks and four strikeouts. Tatum Edwards improved to 11-6 with the one-hitter, tossing 10 Ks with just one walk.
The Mavericks are off this weekend before returning to action next Tuesday against Kansas City in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
