James Records 14 Strikeouts in Loss to Oregon State

Las Vegas, Nev. ? Senior pitcher Peaches James produced 14 strikeouts in her second complete game of the season, but it wasn’t enough, as Oregon State pulled off a 1-0 upset of No. 8 Nebraska Sunday afternoon on the final day of the 2004 UNLV Classic.

James’ 14 strikeouts represented the second-highest total of her career, as she produced 17 against Oklahoma State May 2, 2003. James struck out six of the last 10 batters she faced and struck out the side in the second and sixth innings. The Papillion-LaVista graduate allowed just four hits, but the second was a fifth-inning solo home run that won the game for Oregon State.

Senior outfielder Nicole Trimboli was the only NU player with more than one hit, as she went 2-for-3 for the day.

Senior pitcher Monica Hoffman (7-3) picked up the win for OSU (12-6), giving up five hits but holding the Huskers scoreless for the first time in 2004.

With the loss, Nebraska fell to 2-3 after its first weekend of action this season. In earlier tournament games, the Huskers defeated No. 12 DePaul and No. 10 Michigan, but fell to top-ranked UCLA and Notre Dame.

The Huskers missed on an opportunity to score in the bottom of the fourth. James reached on a fielder’s choice with one out, and then stole second. Freshman catcher Jamie Waldecker then sent a hard-hit ground ball past Oregon State shortstop Kelly Petersen. James raced home and appeared to score, but was later called out for runner interference.

Oregon State got on the board in the top of the fifth when Brianne McGowan smacked a solo shot over the left field fence, giving OSU a 1-0 advantage. Later in the inning, with two outs and runners on first and second, James froze Petersen for her 10th strikeout of the game.

After leaving one runner on base in the bottom of the sixth, NU had one final chance to score in the seventh. James led off and grounded out to the shortstop, and Hoffman struck out Waldecker and Trisha Tannahill.

Nebraska returns to action Friday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. vs. Centenary at the Crowne Plaza Classic in Houston, Texas.