James Picks Up 70th Career Victory in 3-0 Win

Tallahassee, Fla. - Senior right-hander Peaches James notched career victory No. 70 on Friday, in No. 19 Nebraska’s 3-0 win over Penn State (7-13) in the first game of pool play at the Florida State Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla.

 

James (9-3) is only the fourth pitcher in school history to win at least 70 games. The last was Leigh Ann Walker (1999-2002), who won 81 games in her career. Missy Beseres (4-6) took the loss for Penn State.

 

James was dominant against the Nittany Lions. In a complete-game shutout, James allowed only one hit and struck out 10. Her eighth strikeout of the game gave her 100 strikeouts this season. The shutout increased James’ scoreless streak to 16.2 innings. In her last 30 innings, she has only surrendered one run.

 

Offensively, freshman Jamie Waldecker was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk. Waldecker recorded the game-winning RBI when she singled home junior Anne Steffan in the third inning. Junior Sheena Lawrick was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a triple.

 

NU opened the scoring in the bottom of the third.  Steffan reached on a one-out, infield single and moved up to second when senior Nicole Trimboli grounded out to first. With two outs, Lawrick and sophomore Trisha Tannahill each drew walks to load the bases for Waldecker. Waldecker delivered, lining a single to left that scored Steffan and Lawrick to put the Huskers up 2-0.

 

Nebraska added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth. After Trimboli popped out, Lawrick tripled to the gap in right center. Tannahill followed with a pop out, but Lawrick later scored on a wild pitch to make the score 3-0.

 

NU (12-8) continues pool play tonight at 5 p.m. (CST) against Saint Louis at the Messer Softball Complex in Tallahassee.