NU softball team dominates opponents in all five games of Troy Cox Classic

In college softball, the mercy rule comes into effect after a team is ahead of its opponent by eight runs after five innings.

The Nebraska softball team used that rule to its advantage this weekend as the Huskers showed no mercy to their opponents four times in a total of five games during the Troy Cox Classic.

In its second tournament of the year, the No. 22 Huskers won all five games, improving its season record to 8-3.

During the weekend, the Huskers faced off against four teams in Colorado State, Weber State, Stephen F. Austin and host New Mexico State.

Assistant coach Lori Sippel said she was impressed with the team's offensive production throughout the weekend.

"(Sunday) we started out behind 2-0 and we thought right away it would be a slugfest," she said. "But we were able to stop the momentum in the first inning."

After sophomore Tatum Edwards gave up a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, Nebraska answered back in the bottom of the third with seven runs, including a three-run home run by Brooke Thomason.

Freshman Mattie Fowler's first career home run in the bottom of the fifth inning ended the game with a 10-2 win, making it the seventh time this year the Huskers have defeated their opponents by eight or more runs.

Sippel said the offensive surge from Nebraska this weekend helped the pitchers' arms stay fresh.

"The run rules are always kind of nice for me as a pitching coach," she said. "It cuts down the innings our pitchers have to throw. I was really pleased with the girls' productive at-bats."

Senior Ashley Hagemann, who earned the win, came into replace Edwards in the third inning and pitched three innings of scoreless ball, allowing four hits, while striking out four.

Edwards, who started the game, threw two innings, giving up three hits and two runs.

The sophomore, who pitched a total of 11 innings, picked up two wins in the Troy Cox Classic against Colorado State and Stephen A. Austin.

Edwards, who pitched only eight innings last weekend, said she was happy to have contributed to the team's wins this weekend.

"I've been doing a lot of treatment and I just wanted to come out and get ahead of batters," she said. "It felt great pitching well for my team and I wanted to give them the best games I could give."

In the tournament's first game, the Huskers beat the Rams, 10-2, in six innings thrown by Edwards. Her second win came in a 9-0 victory against the Lumberjacks.

She also helped her cause with the bat.

In the first game against the Rams, Edwards went 3-for-4 with two RBI, combining for six RBI with her sister, Taylor, in that game.

"I was just seeing the ball well," Edwards said. "And when that happens you just want to make sure that the next game is better than the game before."

And that's what happened for Edwards in Game 2 of Friday's tournament.

Against the Aggies, Edwards connected for two long balls and tied the school record with seven RBI.

Sippel said she's noticed Edwards' confidence grow in each game.

"She's getting stronger every time she gets the balls," the pitching coach said. "Not just physically but she's understanding her game more and more. She's a great athlete and her confidence is constantly building."

Edwards is now tied with senior Ashley Guile for 16 RBI on the team.

Although the team's biggest concerns coming into this weekend were their defense and pitching, they also were happy with the consistency in their offense, Edwards said.

"Overall we did great this weekend," she said. "We made quick adjustments against the pitchers we faced and hit solid ball in every single game.

"Coming off last weekend, this weekend moved us into the right direction that we wanted to go."

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