Huskers Look to Continue Winning Streak

Lincoln - The 19th-ranked Nebraska softball teams heads to Austin, Texas, this weekend for a two-game set with the Texas Longhorns. The Huskers, currently in first place in the Big 12, are looking to win their 10th consecutive game overall and seventh straight in conference.

NU (27-11, 6-0) picked up two shutout victories this week, downing in-state rival Creighton, 2-0, on Tuesday and routing Iowa State, 6-0, on Wednesday. Nebraska pitchers have now thrown six consecutive shutouts and have not allowed a run in 45.1 innings.

Right-handers Peaches James and Summer Tobias each tossed two-hit shutouts this week. Against Creighton on Tuesday, James, the reigning USA Softball and NFCA National Player of the Week, struck out 12 and did not surrender a walk. In both games, each pitcher allowed only one runner to advance past first base.

Offensively, junior Anne Steffan and sophomore Trisha Tannahill each got off to great starts this week. Steffan went a combined 4-for-6 with three runs scored in the Huskers' two mid-week games. Tannahill went 3-for-6 with three RBIs and one run scored. She tied a season-high with three RBIs against Iowa State on Wednesday, including producing the game-winning RBI with her run-scoring single in the fourth inning.

In addition to continuing team streaks, James will look to continue some streaks of her own when she steps into the circle on Friday. James has gone 35.1 innings without allowing a run, has thrown five straight shutouts, six complete games and has won eight straight decisions. James’ next shutout would be the 40th of her career, which would establish a new school record for career shutouts.

Texas, which went to the Women’s College World Series last season, is still looking for its first conference win. The Longhorns (18-15, 0-5) have lost three in a row, dropping a pair of games at Oklahoma, and losing a 6-0 decision to Texas A&M on Wednesday. Nebraska is a combined 0-2 against the Sooners and Aggies.

Texas (18-15, 0-5)
Texas, the second best hitting team in the league with a .291 average, is led by Amber Hall, who is hitting .406 with an on-base percentage of .448. Wynter Turner is the top slugger for the Longhorns. Turner leads the team with five home runs and 24 RBIs.

In the circle, Christina Gwyn has thrown the most innings of Texas’ trio of pitchers. In 110.2 innings, Gwyn (6-8) has allowed 110 hits and 59 runs (3.73 ERA). Opponents are hitting .261 against her and have drawn 68 walks, but have struck out 71 times. Amy Bradford (7-3) leads the staff in wins (seven), ERA (2.18) and opponent average (.206). In 54.2 innings, Bradford has struck out 68 while walking only 27.

In 2003, the Longhorns and Huskers played three close games, with Texas winning two of them. Texas won a 1-0, 10-inning decision to open the series before Nebraska bounced back with a 3-1 victory. The teams met again at the Big 12 Tournament, where UT eliminated the Huskers with a 2-0 victory.

NU senior right-hander Peaches James started two games against Texas last season. James went 0-2 against the Longhorns, allowing only two earned runs in 17.2 innings of work (0.79 ERA). James struck out 16 in limiting Texas to a .175 batting average.

Offensively, senior Nicole Trimboli hit a team-high .333 last year against Texas. Trimboli was 3-for-9 with a run scored and two stolen bases. The Huskers had great success on the base paths a year ago, finishing 12-for-12 in stolen bases.