James Posts Fifth Straight Shutout in 2-0 Win

Lincoln ? Senior right-hander Peaches James tossed her fifth consecutive complete-game shutout, notched her eighth straight victory and extended her scoreless streak to 35.1 innings in holding Creighton to two hits in No. 20 Nebraska’s 2-0 win at Bowlin Stadium on Tuesday.

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With the win, NU (26-11) picked up its 13th straight victory over the Bluejays (24-9-1) and eighth straight win overall, with James earning the win in all eight games. James improved to 21-5 on the season, while Creighton’s Tammy Nielsen dropped to 15-6 with the loss. The victory was the 82nd career victory for James, moving her into sole possession of second place in school history. James had been tied with former Husker Leigh Ann Walker, who won 81 games from 1999-2002.

 

James also moved into a tie for first place in school history with her 39th career shutout. She is tied with her pitching coach, Lori Sippel who also tossed 39 shutouts from 1985-88. 

 

James, who was named the USA Softball National Player of the Week earlier in the day, showed why by dominating CU. The Papillion, Neb., native fanned 12 Bluejays and did not surrender a walk in allowing only one Creighton runner to advance past first base. James’ 12 strikeouts were the second straight game she recorded 10 or more strikeouts and marked the 11th game this season she has recorded double-digit strikeouts.

 

Offensively, Nielsen saw her streak of 21.2 innings without allowing a hit come to an end when junior Anne Steffan led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single. Steffan finished the game 2-for-2 with a sacrifice and a run scored.

 

The game was scoreless heading into the third inning when sophomore Jessica Yoachim reached on an error to start the inning. Steffan’s sacrifice bunt moved Yoachim to second. On the play, an error by the Creighton third baseman allowed Yoachim to reach third and Steffan to end up on second. The Bluejays then elected to intentionally walk senior Nicole Trimboli to load the bases with no outs.

 

After Creighton recorded the first out of the inning, freshman first baseman Jamie Waldecker came to the plate for the Huskers. Waldecker, who started at first base for the first time in her delivered the first game-winning RBI of her career with a sacrifice fly. Waldecker was filling in for injured first baseman Sheena Lawrick, who is out for the season after tearing her left ACL on Sunday.

 

Waldecker lined a pitch down the left field line, where Creighton’s Melanie Dorsey made an outstanding diving catch. On the play, Yoachim scored from third to give James the only run she would need. James followed with an RBI single to give the Huskers their second run in the 2-0 victory. James finished the night 2-for-3 with an RBI.

 

Nebraska looks to improve to 6-0 in the Big 12 Conference and 4-0 at home when it hosts Iowa State tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Bowlin Stadium.