Big 12 Championships Highlight Huskers' 2004 Season

The 2004 <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska softball team captured the Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships, but saw its bid for the Women’s College World Series end with a 2-0 loss to California in the NCAA Regional championship game at Bowlin Stadium on May 23. Despite the loss, NU’s season was highlighted by many successes. The 2004 Huskers:<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

-Won the Big 12 regular-season title for the first time since 2001 and the Big 12 Tournament title for the first time since 2000.

-Became only the second team in school history to sweep the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles.

-Defeated 12 teams ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll, including 2004 WCWS qualifiers Michigan (1-1 record), California (1-2), Florida State (1-0) and Oklahoma (3-1).

-Finished the season with a 12-7 record against top 25 foes, including a 3-3 record against top 10 teams and a 2-2 record against top five teams.

-Earned their 15th NCAA Tournament bid in the past 23 years, including their 10th straight.

-Earned a No. 1 or No. 2 seed for the eight straight year, joining Arizona, Michigan, Oklahoma and Washington as the only other teams to accomplish that feat.

-Placed a league-high seven players on the All-Big 12 team, including four on the first team and three on the second team. Also placed six on the Academic All-Big 12 team, including three to the first team and three to the second team.

-Had five players named to the NFCA All-Midwest Region team, including three on the first team and two on the second team.

-Saw senior pitcher Peaches James named the Big 12 Player of the Year, as well as the Big 12 Tournament Most Valuable Player.

-Had two players named to the USA Softball Player-of-the-Year Watch list. Senior pitcher Peaches James was named one of 25 finalists for the award.

-Had two players, senior pitcher Peaches James and senior outfielder Nicole Trimboli, invited to the ARCO Olympic Training Center.

Quick 2004 Season Review

Nebraska finished the 2004 season with a 45-17 record. The Huskers earned the Big 12 Conference regular-season and tournament championships and were ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll every week of the season.

NU opened the season with a 2-3 record at the UNLV Classic, despite defeating then-No. 10 Michigan and then-No. 14 DePaul. The Huskers again went 2-3 at the prestigious NFCA Classic Feb. 27-28 and saw their record drop to 9-8 after a non-conference loss to Kansas on March 6.

 

After the loss to the Jayhawks, Nebraska picked up seven straight victories before losing three of five games. NU lost back-to-back games against then-No. 7 Oklahoma and then-No. 23 Arizona State at the KIA Klassic. It would mark the last time NU would drop back-to-back games until the final weekend of the regular season.

 

After the back-to-back losses, Nebraska rattled off a season-high 12 straight wins, including a pair of victories over then-No. 19 Baylor. During that stretch, NU outscored its opponents 51-10 and recorded six straight shutouts.

 

NU saw its win streak snapped by Notre Dame on April 13, but rebounded quickly by taking two games from then-No. 17 Oklahoma April 17-18 to improve to 10-0 in the Big 12 Conference.

The Huskers saw their six-game winning streak and perfect record in the Big 12 fall with a 3-0 loss to Kansas in Lincoln on April 28. The loss dropped Nebraska to second in the Big 12 standings for the first time all season.

 

Trailing Texas A&M by one half game, NU used a pair of extra-innings wins over the Aggies to clinch the Big 12 regular-season title with a record of 14-1. The Huskers closed out the regular season by dropping two games to third-place Missouri May 8-9.

 

At the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City, Okla., top-seeded Nebraska cruised to the title, outscoring its four opponents 20-2. The Huskers opened up with a 2-1 victory over Texas in the first round. Against No. 21 Oklahoma, senior right-handed pitcher Peaches James, the Big 12's Player of the Year and tournament MVP, tossed the first perfect game in tournament history in a 7-0 win.

 

Nebraska then hammered 19th-ranked Baylor, 10-1 in five innings to advance to the championship game. The Huskers' avenged their two losses to Missouri in the regular season by defeating the Tigers, 1-0, to claim the Big 12 Tournament title. In the game, James struck out a season-high 16 batters.

 

NU ended its season in the NCAA Regional finals at Bowlin Stadium. The Huskers went 3-2 in the regional, defeating Lehigh once and Creighton twice. Nebraska dropped a pair of 2-0 decisions to California, including a season-ending defeat on May 23. The 2004 Huskers finished the season with a 45-17 record and Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships.

 

Tough Schedule

Nebraska played one of the toughest schedules in the nation, facing 19 teams ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll at the time of the game. NU opened the season facing three straight top 15 teams, including the season-opener against then-No. 1 and defending national champion UCLA.

 

The Huskers played eight games against teams participating in the 2004 WCWS. Nebraska defeated Oklahoma, the top seed at the WCWS, three times in four tries. NU also defeated California, Florida State and Michigan.

 

NU played a total of 25 teams ranked in the most current USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll, compiling a 12-13 record against those teams.

 

NU Coach Rhonda Revelle

Rhonda Revelle concluded her 12th season at Nebraska with a 45-17 campaign that improved her overall record at NU to 473-240. She led the Huskers to the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles. Revelle now has the most combined Big 12 titles of any coach in the league.

 

Revelle saw her squad ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll every week and won her 450th game at Nebraska with a 10-2 five-inning win over Oklahoma State in the opening game of Big 12 play on March 27.

 

 

Big 12 Regular-Season Champions

Nebraska clinched its first Big 12 Conference regular-season championship since 2001 by sweeping a two-game series with Texas A&M May 1-2 at Bowlin Stadium. NU entered the weekend series in second place in the league standings, one half-game behind the first-place Aggies.

The Huskers regained first place on May 1 with a thrilling 5-4, eight-inning victory over A&M. NU then clinched the Big 12 regular-season championship on Sunday with a 4-3, 10-inning win over Texas A&M.

 

The game headed into the bottom of the 10th inning with the game tied at 3-3. The Huskers loaded the bases with only one out for first baseman Jamie Waldecker. The freshman from Garden Grove, Calif., promptly delivered by singling to center on an 0-1 pitch to give NU the regular-season championship. With the win, Nebraska joined Oklahoma as the only programs to win three regular-season championships since the Big 12 was formed in 1996.

 

Seven Earn All-Big 12 Honors

Senior right-handed pitcher Peaches James was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, and a league-high seven Huskers were named to the All-Big 12 first or second teams.

 

Four Huskers were named to the first team, including James, senior center fielder Nicole Trimboli, sophomore left fielder Trisha Tannahill and sophomore third baseman Jessica Yoachim.

 

NU also placed three players on the second team, including senior right fielder Liz Lawhorn, junior second baseman Anne Steffan and freshman catcher/first baseman Jamie Waldecker.

 

Six Named Academic All-Big 12

Six Nebraska softball players were among the 48 student-athletes named to the Big 12 Softball Academic All-Big 12 Teams.

 

The Huskers selected to the first team were senior outfielder Liz Lawhorn (business administration), senior pitcher Peaches James (sociology) and sophomore outfielder KoKo Tacha (undecided). Tacha was one of two student-athletes to be honored with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

 

Four Huskers were named to the second team. Junior second baseman Anne Steffan (psychology), sophomore outfielder Trisha Tannahill (undecided) and sophomore third baseman Jessica Yoachim (undecided) all earned second-team honors.

 

Nominated by each institution’s director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the softball academic all-league squad consisted of 31 first-team and 17 second-team members. First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.2 or better grade-point average while the second team are those who have a 3.0 to 3.19 GPA.

 

Five Huskers Earn All-Midwest Region Honors

Five Nebraska softball players were among the 24 players named to the 2004 Midwest All-Region teams. Three Huskers were named to the first team, including senior right-handed pitcher Peaches James, sophomore third baseman Jessica Yoachim and senior outfielder Nicole Trimboli. Sophomore outfielder Trisha Tannahill and junior second baseman Anne Steffan were named to the second team.

James made her third appearance on the All-Midwest Region team, while Trimboli and Steffan were both honored for the second time. Yoachim and Tannahill were recognized for the first time. As part of the first team, James, Trimboli and Yoachim moved on to the All-America ballot.