Nebraska Falls to Texas A&M in Eight Innings

Tallahassee, Fla. ? Nebraska dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 extra-innings decision to Texas A&M (17-11) in the semifinals of the Gold Bracket at the Florida State Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla., on Sunday. The Huskers (16-9) had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to produce a run after loading the bases with one out.

 

Senior right-hander Peaches James (11-4) was the hard-luck loser for NU. James pitched three innings in relief of sophomore starter Summer Tobias. Neither James nor Tobias allowed an earned run. Lindsay Wilhelmson (4-3) earned the win for the Aggies, allowing one run in four innings in relief of starter Jessica Kapchinksi.

 

James saw her 33-inning scoreless streak come to an end in the eighth, but still hasn’t allowed an earned run in 33.2 innings. James allowed only one hit in her three innings. In accordance with the international tie-breaker rule, Texas A&M’s Sharonda McDonald was placed on second to start the eighth inning. When McDonald scored the game-winning run, the run was charged to the team instead of to James.

 

At the plate, junior Sheena Lawrick led the Huskers with a 2-for-3 day, including two doubles, two RBIs and a walk.

 

In the top of the eighth, with McDonald on second, Texas A&M’s Rocky Spencer reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners on first and second. Adrian Gregory then struck out for the first out. Jana James followed with a single to right field to score McDonald and give the Aggies the 3-2 win.

 

Before the eighth, Nebraska came back from a 2-0 deficit and had a chance to take the lead. Trailing by two runs in the bottom of the fifth, freshman Devin Porter drew a lead-off single and moved up to second when junior Anne Steffan beat out a bunt single. Senior Nicole Trimboli moved the runners to second and third with a bunt and wound up at first with a single when no Aggie covered first base.

 

With the bases loaded and no outs, Lawrick doubled down the right field line to score Porter and Steffan and tie the game at two.  The Huskers were unable to plate any more runs in the inning after sophomore Trisha Tannahill struck out, Trimboli was thrown out at home on a ground out by junior Jocelyn Evans and senior Liz Lawhorn grounded out to third.

 

NU found itself down1-0 after one inning of play. McDonald led off with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by freshman catcher Jamie Waldecker. McDonald then stole third and came home on Adrian Gregory’s sacrifice fly.

 

Texas A&M increased its lead to 2-0 by scoring a run in the top of the third. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, McDonald advanced to second on a single by Spencer. On the play, freshman third baseman Carmen Kier’s throw to first sailed over the head of Lawrick and McDonald scored from second on the error.

 

Nebraska’s best chance to win the game came in the bottom of the seventh. Lawrick hit her second consecutive double to put the winning run in scoring position with only one out. Tannahill then walked and James reached on a fielder’s choice, which loaded the bases when Lawrick was safe at third.

 

The scoring threat ended when A&M forced out Lawrick at home on Evans’ hard-hit grounder to second and Lawhorn grounded out to the shortstop. The inning marked the third time in the game Nebraska left the bases loaded. For the game, NU left 12 runners on base.

 

Nebraska heads to Fullerton, Calif., on Monday for the Kia Klassic. The Huskers first game of that tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. (CST) against UNLV.