Walker, James, Combine for Shutout in Win Over Michigan

Oklahoma City, Okla. -- Leigh Ann Walker and Peaches James combined for a one-hit shutout to lead the seventh-ranked Nebraska softball team to a 1-0 victory over sixth-seeded Michigan in a Women's College World Series elimination game Saturday afternoon at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. With the win, the Huskers, who evened their record in the WCWS to 1-1, will face Florida State at 9 p.m. ESPN2.

Walker (28-5) was credited with the win after tossing the first five innings and allowing just one hit and yielding just one walk while striking out eight Wolverines. James picked up her fourth save of the season, as she held Michigan hitless in the final two innings, striking out two batters.

"I just wanted to come out there and get the save for Leigh Ann, because she threw a great game," James said.

The Husker pitchers overcame a shaky performance by the Nebraska defense, which tied a season high by committing four errors.

Offensively, NU was led by senior third baseman Cindy Roethemeyer, who drove in the Huskers' only run with an RBI single in the top of the fifth. The RBI was Roethemeyer's first since April 24.

"I really think that this game was about perserverance - sticking together, and not letting the hiccups get to us," NU Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "We had some miscues that are not a true reflection of Nebraska softball. The good news, as I told the team, is that we have it out of our system. We had great pitching today, and we scored the run with out strength. We took care of the little things, and didn't cave when the little things didn't go our way."

After stranding a runner on second in the first and another on third base in the top of the third inning, the Huskers finally broke through in the fifth. Leigh Suhr ripped a one-out double down the left field line for her first hit of the WCWS. Roethemeyer followed with a single up the middle, and Suhr rounded third and beat out the throw at the plate for the score. Roethemeyer was thrown out at second, and Anne Steffan grounded out to third to end the top half of the inning.

"I was trying to get a good enough jump to score on a base-hit situation," Suhr said. "Once I saw the ball hit the ground, I broke and made the turn."

Michigan threatened to take control of the game after Nebraska defensive lapses in the bottom of the sixth. Kelsey Kollen and Meghan Doe reached on back-to-back errors by Trimboli and Roethemeyer. With no outs and runners on first and second, Revelle opted to replace Walker on the mound with James. The Papillion, Neb., native froze Stefanie Volpe and struck out MU?s cleanup hitter, Monica Schock, swinging with changeups. Suhr then got Doe on a fielder?s choice to escape the inning.

"Peaches had them set up beautifully, and then she delivered," Revelle said.

Nicole Myotcka (22-3) took the loss for Michigan, allowing one run on four hits while striking out two Huskers.