Lawhorn Leads No. 13 Nebraska Past No. 23 Texas A&M

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<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln, Neb. -- Senior outfielder Liz Lawhorn smacked a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth Saturday night to lead the No. 13 Nebraska softball team to a 5-4 win over No. 23 Texas A&M in front of 1,218 fans at Bowlin Stadium. With the victory, the Huskers improved to 37-13 overall and 13-1 in the league to re-claim first place in the conference standings. The Aggies (31-17 13-2) fell a half-game behind the Huskers in the Big 12 race.

 

Sophomore outfielder Trisha Tannahill led off in the bottom of the eighth and ripped a single to left. Jamie Waldecker followed with a sacrifice bunt and was safe at first on an A&M error. Peaches James drew a walk to load the bases for Lawhorn, who was hitless in her three previous at bats before producing the game winner.

 

James (29-6) picked up the win with a record-breaking performance. The senior right-hander struck out A&M’s Jana James in a historical sixth inning to post her 286th strikeout of 2004, besting Lori Sippel’s mark of 285 set in 1988. Then, after striking out Adrian Gregory, James struck out Kristin Gunter to move past Sippel into second place on the NU career strikeout chart with 839.

 

James also picked up her 90th career victory, becoming just the second player in NU history to accumulate 90 wins. James finished with six strikeouts, allowing three earned runs on four hits in 8.0 innings of work. 

 

Jill Weyand (7-6) was the losing pitcher, as she gave up one run on four hits in the final two innings in relief of starting pitcher Jessica Kapchinski, who allowed four runs (all unearned) on three hits in five innings of work.

 

Both teams struggled defensively behind their pitchers, as Texas A&M committed six errors and NU recorded four.

 

Offensively, the Huskers were led by Tannahill, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. James went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third. Gregory and Nicole Robinson each produced two hits for the Aggies.

 

Nebraska and Texas A&M will meet again Sunday at noon at Bowlin Stadium. The game will be televised live in Lincoln by NETV2 and will also be aired nationally on CSTV. The contest, which will also be broadcast in Lincoln on KKUL 105.3 FM, represents the final conference game of the season for Texas A&M, while Nebraska plays Missouri May 8-9.

 

Trailing 4-2 after the sixth, A&M mounted a comeback with a three-run seventh. James walked Lindsay Wilhelmson with one out. Morgan Hebert then ripped an RBI double down the left field line to bring the Aggies within two runs. After Sherah Atkins popped up to second, Sharonda McDonald singled to put runners on the corners for Rocky Spencer, who ripped a 2-2 pitch to center for a two-run single to make it 4-4.

 

In the bottom of the seventh with two outs and Yoachim on second, Jill Weynand struck out Trimboli to send the games into extra innings.

 

Texas A&M opened the scoring Saturday, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with the help of two Husker errors. McDonald led off and reached on an error by Waldecker at first. McDonald advanced to second on Spencer’s sacrifice bunt. Anne Steffan attempted to throw McDonald out at third, but throw sailed into left field. McDonald raced home for the unearned run.

 

NU answered in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Trimboli ripped a single up the middle, and then advanced to second on a throwing error by McDonald. Trisha Tannahill followed with a bloop single to center, plating Trimboli to tie the game.

 

In the bottom of the third, James launched a 1-0 pitch high over the left center fence for a two-run dinger that gave NU a 3-1 lead. The home run was James’ fourth of the season and her first since she produced two at Oklahoma State March 28. Tannahill, who reached on an error with one out, also scored on the homer.

 

The Huskers added another unearned run in the bottom of the third, when Steffan scored on two errors on A&M first baseman Kristin Gunter.