James Throws Perfect Game in Win Over OU

Oklahoma City, Okla. - Behind a perfect game by senior right-hander Peaches James, the 14th-ranked Nebraska softball team blanked No. 21 Oklahoma, 7-0, in second-round action of the Big 12 Tournament on Friday. James's perfect game was just the second in school history and the first since current associate head coach Lori Sippel's on April 9, 1986.

It was also the first perfect game in the nine-year history of the tournament and the third no-hitter. James, who also went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, faced the minimum 21 Sooners and struck out nine to improve to 32-7 on the season. She clinched the perfect game by striking out Heather Scaglione, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. James, the school record holder for career and single-season shutouts, recorded her first shutout since April 12 against Notre Dame.

With the victory, Nebraska improved to 40-15, while OU fell to 39-18-1. The Sooners will play at 5:30 p.m. Friday against Kansas in an elimination contest. Nebraska will play Saturday on the auxilary field at 10 a.m. against fourth-seeded Baylor.

"I don’t know if this is the best she’s ever thrown because she’s thrown a lot of great games in her career," NU Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "A perfect game is very special, and a perfect game in the Big 12 tournament is really special. We have a tremendous rivalry with Oklahoma and respect for their program. Anytime you can walk away from a situation like that, it’s been a special day for our pitcher and our catcher."

While James continued to show why she was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, the Husker offense broke out of a mini-slump, scoring seven runs on nine hits. The Huskers used a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning to grab an early 4-0 lead. Junior Anne Steffan reached on a two-out infield single to start the rally. Sophomore Jessica Yoachim followed with an infield single to put runners on first and second. Senior Nicole Trimboli drove home the first run of the game with an RBI single up the middle. Sophomore Trisha Tannahill drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases for freshman Jamie Waldecker. Waldecker sent a grounder to Sooner first baseman April Valdez, who was unable to come up the ball. On the error, Yoachim and Trimboli scored to push the Huskers' lead to 3-0. James then recorded her second consecutive hit of the game, an RBI single to cap a four-run inning for the Big Red.

Nebraska plated three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Junior pinch-hitter Jocelyn Evans reached on a one-out walk and Steffan and Yoachim reached on back-to-back Oklahoma errors to load the bases for Trimboli. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native responded with a bases-clearing double to put NU up 7-0. Trimboli finished the game with four RBIs and a double.

The Nos. 1, 2 and 3 hitters were a combined 6-for-11 with five runs scored and four RBIs in the game. Steffan, Yoachim, Trimboli and James each finished with two hits.