Huskers Clinch Big 12 Regular-Season Title

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln, Neb. ? Jamie Waldecker stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 10th inning with the bases loaded, one out and a Big 12 Conference championship hanging in the balance. After taking the first pitch for a strike, the freshman from Garden Grove, Calif., lined a pitch off Texas A&M starter Jessica Kapchinski into center field to give Nebraska a 4-3 win and clinch the school’s first Big 12 Championship since 2001.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

“Words can’t describe how I feel right now,” Waldecker said. “To come through with this win was big, not just for me, but for the team. It’s an incredible feeling.”

 

Waldecker finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs.

 

For the second straight game, the match up between the top two teams in the Big 12 required extra innings. On Saturday, senior Liz Lawhorn singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth to give Nebraska a 5-4 win. On Sunday, it was Waldecker’s turn.

 

Junior Anne Steffan was placed on second base to start the 10th, in accordance with the international tie breaker. Sophomore Jessica Yoachim moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt, before Kapchinski intentionally walked senior Nicole Trimboli and sophomore Trisha Tannahill to bring up Waldecker.

 

Waldecker’s third game-winning hit of her career pushed Nebraska’s record to 38-13 overall and 14-1 in the Big 12. Senior right-hander Peaches James (30-6) became only the second pitcher in school history to notch 30 victories in a season. In 10 innings, James allowed only six hits and two earned runs.

 

With the loss, Texas A&M fell to 31-18 overall and 13-3 in the Big 12. Jessica Kapchinski (16-7) took the loss for the Aggies, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits in 9.1 innings.

 

The win leaves Nebraska with a 2-0 record against the Aggies in league play and gives the Huskers the tie breaker over A&M, which would be the determining factor in deciding the league champion if Nebraska were to get swept by Missouri next weekend.

 

For now, however, the Huskers are enjoying their Big 12 regular-season championship, before preparing for the Tigers.

 

“Anytime you win the Big 12 in any sport, it says a lot for your team,” NU Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said. “We take a lot of pride in that.”

 

Both teams scored started fast with each team plating one unearned run in the first inning. Texas A&M’s Sharonda McDonald led off the game with a bunt single, stole second and wound up on third when catcher Brittney Yolo’s throw sailed into center field. McDonald crossed home for the game’s first run on a ground ball by Jana James.

 

NU answered back in the bottom of the first when Steffan drew a leadoff walk and stole second. She was still at second with two outs when Tannahill sent a pop up behind the first base bag. Aggies’ first baseman Lindsay Park couldn’t hold on to the ball and Steffan scored to tie the game.

 

The Huskers took the lead in the bottom of the third when Trimboli reached on a one-out double and scored on Waldecker’s two-out single up the middle.

 

Texas A&M’s Adrian Gregory tied the game in the top of the sixth with a lead off home run to right field. The Aggies’ Lindsay Park followed with a two-out homer to right to give A&M a 3-2 lead.

 

Just as they had in the first inning, the Huskers answered right back in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at three. Redshirt freshman Carmen Kier sent a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right field for a two-out solo home run, the second homer of her career.

 

Despite clinching the regular season championship, NU is looking to finish strong when third-place Missouri comes to town next weekend to close out the regular season.

 

“This team is learning how to fight and that’s where confidence comes from,” Revelle said. “We’re determined to find a way to win.”