Nebraska Defeats Utah, Falls to Kansas

Lawrence, Kan. -- The Nebraska softball team went 1-1 on the opening day of the Hampton Inn Classic in Lawrence, Kan., on Saturday. NU (9-8) defeated Utah 9-1 in six innings to open the tournament, but fell to host Kansas 3-0 in its second game.

 

Against Utah, senior right-hander Peaches James tied a season-high with 14 strikeouts. James (6-3) struck out at least two batters in every inning including the first and the fourth innings when she struck out the side. It was the fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season for James and the first since she struck out 10 against Florida on Feb. 21.

 

Heather Bowlin (0-4) took the loss for the Utes (6-9).

 

Offensively,  NU produced a run and sent at least six batters to the plate in every inning except the third. Senior Nicole Trimboli continued her assault on the Husker record books. Trimboli had two RBIs to move into a tie for second place on the all-time chart with 137. Jenny Smith (1995-98) also tallied 137 RBIs in her career at Nebraska.

 

Junior leadoff hitter Anne Steffan sparked the Husker offense, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Sophomore Trisha Tannahill felt right at home at the plate in her return to her home state. The Olathe, Kan., native was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Senior Liz Lawhorn hit her first home run of the year, a solo shot in the fifth.

 

Against the Jayhwaks (11-4), Kansas right-hander Kassie Humphreys (6-2) worked seven scoreless innings, holding Nebraska to only one hit in KU’s 3-0 victory. Sophomore Summer Tobias (1-4), took the loss for NU, allowing two runs on six hits in five innings of work.

 

Senior Liz Lawhorn had the only Husker hit, a leadoff single in the bottom of the third inning. Nebraska did draw five walks and left six runners on base. Junior Sheena Lawrick reached base three times, despite not recording an official at bat. Lawrick walked twice and was hit by a pitch.

 

NU had a chance to get back into the game in the bottom of the sixth. Junior second baseman Anne Steffan grounded out to start the inning. Three of the next four hitters drew walks to load the bases for sophomore Katie Linke, who struck out swinging.

 

Kansas was helped by the long ball. Sandy Smith and Serena Settlemier each belted solo home runs for the Jayhawks. Smith’s second inning home run was part of a two-run inning for KU and proved to be the winning run. In the second, Kansas got three two-out hits after Smith’s leadoff home run, including an RBI double by Ashley Frazer that scored Jessica Moppin to put the Jayhawks up 2-0.

 

Settlemier’s home run came in the sixth inning off freshman right-hander Ashley DeBuhr. DeBuhr pitched two innings, allowing one run on two hits.

 

Nebraska continues tournament play in Lawrence on Sunday against the same two teams. The start times of both games tomorrow have been pushed back one hour from their originally scheduled times. Now, the Huskers will face Utah at 10 a.m. and Kansas at 2:30 p.m.