Nebraska Struggles Offensively in WCWS Loss to Arizona

Oklahoma City, Okla. - The seventh-ranked Nebraska softball team struggled offensively and suffered a 1-0 loss to second-seeded Arizona Thursday night in the opening round of the Women's College World Series. The Huskers, who mustered just three hits and struck out nine times against UA All-American pitcher Jennie Finch, fell to 49-13 on the season. NU will face sixth-seeded Michigan (50-10) Saturday, May 25 at 3:30 p.m. in an elimination game at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. The Wolverines fell to Arizona State, 2-1. The contest will be aired live on ESPN.

"I think sometimes, it isn't a matter of a team losing, it's a matter of one team scoring more runs," NU Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "I couldn't be more proud of this team, it just happened that Arizona took one out. This was a great softball game. We showed a lot of fight and a lot of passion.

"Of course we were disappointed, but I think we're in a good place. We won on the inside, and that's half the battle."

The Wildcats scored their only run in the fourth. First baseman Leneah Manuma, the nation's home run leader with 21 dingers, smacked a 2-1 pitch from NU sophomore pitcher Peaches James high over the right field fence for a one-out solo homer. After Jackie Coburn reached on a one-out single to right, James struck out Jenny Gladding to end the inning.

"Manuma is a great hitter," James said. "It was an off-speed pitch, and she just got a hold of it. All you can do is tip your hat to her."

James (22-8) took the loss for Nebraska, allowing one run on three hits while striking out nine Wildcats and yielding two walks in her 22nd complete game of the season.Arizona's run was the first earned run that James had allowed in 20 innings.

After Arizona left two runners on base in the bottom of the third, the Huskers threatened to break the scoreless game open in top of the fourth. Finch (33-5) walked Amanda Buchholz to lead off the inning, and Nicole Trimboli followed with a single up the middle. Amber Burgess advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, but James struck out and Leigh Suhr popped up to second, stranding both runners.

Nebraska went three up, three down in the fifth and sixth innings, and then missed on their final opportunity in the top of the seventh. Burgess reached on a leadoff infield single, but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice, bringing up freshman designated player Sheena Lawrick with two outs. Suhr stole second, but Lawrick struck out to end the game.

"We're happy to be here, but we're not done yet," Trimboli said. "We came here with the same attitude as we did in the Big 12 and regionals, and we're not finished yet."

The Huskers are now 41-29 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 9-12 in the Women's College World Series.