Huskers Edge Bluejays, 1-0

Omaha, Neb. - Sophomore Katie Linke delivered the first game-winning hit of her career, a two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth that lifted Nebraska (20-11) to a 1-0 victory over in-state rival Creighton (21-4) on Wednesday. The loss ended Creighton’s 20-game winning streak and pushed Nebraska’s winning streak to 12 straight over the Bluejays.

Junior Sheena Lawrick led off the eighth with a walk and advanced to second on sophomore Trisha Tannahill’s sacrifice bunt. Following a fly out, Linke came to the plate and quickly fell behind in the count, 1-2. She worked the count full before lacing a 3-2 pitch past third baseman Caitlin Marcano for the game-winning RBI.

 

"This game reminded me of an old-fashioned game," Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "Both pitchers were dominating and we really worked hard to find a way to get a run in.

"I was proud of the way we hung in there. We really played hard as a group."

Senior Peaches James (15-5) was the winning pitcher for NU in relief of freshman Ashley DeBuhr. James, who has been named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week the last two weeks, tossed four scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and one walk. Creighton ace Tammy Nielsen (13-3) took the loss, allowing one run on five hits in a complete-game effort. Nielsen struck out eight and walked six. 

 

James recorded her 700th career strikeout when she struck out Katie Ayers, the second batter she faced. With the strikeout, James became one of only four pitchers in school history to record 700 career strikeouts.

 

"I knew Peaches was capable of strikeout people out and dominating in that way," NU Pitching Coach Lori Sippel, who's second in school history with 838 career strikeouts, said. "She's become more dominant every year, and we look for that to continue the rest of the year.

 

"I look forward to being around for her 800th strikeout."

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DeBuhr also pitched well for the Huskers. In her first start since one-hitting Centenary on Feb. 20, the Beatrice native allowed only two hits in her four innings of work. DeBuhr struck out three Bluejays, while surrendering only one walk.

 

Junior Anne Steffan finished 2-for-4 and was the only Husker to have a multi-hit game. Tannahill and senior Liz Lawhorn each had had singles for NU. For the game, Nebraska out-hit Creighton 5-to-3.

 

Nebraska opens Big 12 play this weekend with a pair of games in Stillwater, Okla., against Oklahoma State. First pitch on Saturday is set for 2 p.m. and Sunday's game time is set for 1 p.m. Radio broadcasts and live stats of both games will be available on Huskers.com, while video streaming will be available on HuskersNside.