Huskers Shut Out Utah, Kansas

Lawrence, Kan. -- Nebraska received superb pitching performances from right-handers Summer Tobias and Peaches James in defeating Utah 12-0 and Kansas 1-0 Sunday at the Hampton Inn Classic in Lawrence, Kan. Tobias (2-4) tossed a five inning no-hitter against Utah, giving up only one walk while striking out four. James (8-3) struck out 12 Jayhawks in a complete game, two-hit effort.

The win over Kansas (11-3) snapped a 10-game KU winning streak and gave the Huskers a 3-1 finish at the tournament. For the weekend, Nebraska outscored its opponents 22-4.

 

Tobias tossed her second career no-hitter in holding the Utes (6-11) to two base runners and allowing only one runner to reach second base.Tobias secured her no-hitter when Utah’s No. 8 hitter Brianna Gourdin struck out to end the game.

 

Nebraska’s offense was almost as efficient as Tobias in the game. The Huskers chased starting pitcher Samantha Schroeder (2-2) after only a third of an inning by scoring five runs (four earned). Schroeder came into the game having allowed only two runs in 16 innings this season.

 

A nine-run first inning propelled Nebraska to the 12-0 win. NU sent a season-high 14 batters to the plate in the frame. The Huskers had only three hits in the inning, but drew five walks and had one batter hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded and Nebraska enjoying a 1-0 lead, senior Brittney Yolo was hit by a pitch to bring home junior Sheena Lawrick. Senior Liz Lawhorn and sophomore KoKo Tacha coaxed back-to-back walks with the bases full to score senior Nicole Trimboli and sophomore Trisha Tannahill, respectively.

 

Trimboli’s RBI single that produced the first run of the game moved her into sole possession of second place all-time at Nebraska with 138 RBIs. In her second at bat of the first inning, Trimboli singled home freshman Devin Porter and junior Anne Steffan for her second and third RBIs of the inning.

 

NU plated three more runs in the third. Steffan hit a one-out double down the left field line before the Huskers belted their first back-to-back home runs of the season. Lawrick hit a two-run shot to right for her first home run of the year and Trimboli promptly placed the very next pitch over the wall in right to put Nebraska up 12-0. It was the third round tripper of the season for Timboli.

 

Eight different Huskers scored against the Utes. Trimboli and Lawrick each scored a pair of runs, while Steffan scored three times. Nebraska’s 12 runs were the second highest run total of the season. NU scored 19 against ManhattanCollege on Feb. 21.

 

Nebraska vs. Kansas

Against Kansas, James was dominant in notching her eighth win of the season. Her 12 strikeouts marked the second consecutive game James recorded double-digit strikeouts. James outdueled Kansas right-hander Kara Pierce (5-3), who allowed one run on four hits in six innings of work.

 

Offensively, Trimboli provided the only run James would need. In the fifth inning, redshirt freshman Carmen Kier drew a lead off walk and was lifted for a pinch runner, sophomore Jessica Yoachim. Steffan successfully sacrificed Yoachim to second and Lawhorn walked to place runners on first and second. That brought up Trimboli, who capped a terrific day with an RBI single to left that scored Yoachim. Trimboli finished the day 5-for-5 after collecting three hits against Utah.

 

 

Nebraska next embarks upon a long road trip that spans the next 10 days. NU will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., for the Florida State Invitational. The Huskers open tournament play against Penn State at 1 p.m. on Friday. Following the tournament, Nebraska will head to Fullerton, Calif., for the Kia Klassic.