Huskers Use Three Homers to Defeat Kent State

Las Vegas, Nev. - The 12th-ranked Nebraska softball team relied on a season-high three home runs to defeat Kent State, 5-2,Friday night at the 2002 UNLV Classic. The Huskers, who improved to 5-2, received solo homers from senior second baseman Leigh Suhr and junior shortstop Amanda Buchholz, and a two-run blast from sophomore pitcher Peaches James for the first home run of her collegiate career.

James (2-2) was also the winning pitcher for Nebraska. The sophomore native of Papillion, Neb., allowed two runs on two hits in six innings of work. Senior Leigh Ann Walker recorded her first save of the season, holding the Golden Flashes to one hit in the top of the seventh.

Tracie Logar (0-1) took the loss for Kent State, which fell to 1-1 on the season. Centerfielder Kelly Maehl led Kent State offensively, going 3-for-4 at the plate.

Kent State took a 1-0 advantage in the top of the third when Jodi Stevens ripped a leadoff homer over the right field fence. Buchholz answered for Nebraska in the bottom of the fourth with her first home run of the year, a one-out solo shot down the left field line.

The Golden Flashes threatened again in top of the fifth. Maehl reached on a two-out bunt. Trimboli bobbled a throw at first, as Fincham reached safely to put runners at the corners. But Kent State couldn't capitalize, as Lea Dorto grounded out.

The home run barrage continued in the bottom of the fifth, as Suhr broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out homer to left, but Kent State responded in the top of the sixth. Carrie Eneix ripped a two-out single to right field, and then James walked Renee Lynch. Grete Hornstrom produced an RBI single to make it 2-2. With runners on the corners, James struck out Stevens to end the inning.

Nebraska sophomore Nicole Trimboli broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth with an RBI double to center, scoring pinch runner Anne Steffan. Buchholz advanced Trimboli to third with a ground out, and Liz Lawhorn popped up to second. James then notched the first home run of her collegiate career, a two-run shot to right to give NU a 5-2 lead.

Nebraska continues tournament action at the Desert Breeze Softball Complex Saturday at 5 p.m. against Brigham Young. The Huskers also face No. 2 UCLA Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Huskers Fall to No. 4 LSU
Las Vegas, Nev. - The No. 12 Nebraska softball team led No. 4 Louisiana State by two runs after four innings but couldn’t hold the Tigers off down the stretch and fell, 4-2, Friday afternoon at the 2002 UNLV Classic.

After giving up four runs in the bottom of the fifth, Nebraska was in position to tie the game in top of the seventh. Louisiana State pitcher Britni Sneed walked Amber Burgess and Amanda Buchholz, and sophomore right fielder Liz Lawhorn laced a one-out single to left to load the bases. But NU third baseman Cindy Roethemeyer fouled out, and LSU threw out Lawhorn on the force at second after Husker center fielder Kim Ogee grounded to short.

Sophomore righthander Peaches James (1-2) took the loss for NU (4-2) after entering the game in the fifth inning in relief of Leigh Ann Walker, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out four Tigers in two innings of work. Walker started and three the first four innings, allowing two runs on six hits.

Sneed (3-1) was the winning pitcher for LSU, allowing two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings or work.

Offensively, the Huskers were led by Burgess, who went 2-for-3 and accounted for both of Nebraska’s runs with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth. Lawhorn also went 2-for-3, recording the first multiple-hit game of her career.

Nebraska continues tournament action at the Desert Breeze Softball Complex tonight when it faces Kent State at 6:30 p.m.

The Huskers got on the board first in the contest. With one out in the top of the fourth, Sneed walked NU second baseman Leigh Suhr, who advanced to second when first baseman Nicole Trimboli grounded out. Burgess then drove a 1-2 pitch high over the center field fence, giving the Huskers a 2-0 advantage with her second home run of the year.

LSU responded in the bottom of the fifth with four runs. James entered the game in relief of Walker after the Tucson, Ariz., gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. With no outs, Trena Peel doubled to center and plated Megann Steege for the Tigers’ first score. April Janzen bunted and reached on a fielder’s choice as James tagged out Aleshia Perry at the plate. With runners on the corners, Christy Connor sent a deep shot to center that dropped over the fence off Ogee’s glove for the 4-2 lead. James struck out the next two batters to end the inning.