Waldecker Homer Pushes NU Past Sooners

Lincoln ? Freshman first baseman Jamie Waldecker slugged the second homer of her career to score the winning run in the bottom of the sixth, leading No. 18 Nebraska to a 3-1 victory over 17th-ranked Oklahoma Sunday afternoon before 702 fans at Bowlin Stadium. With the win, the Huskers improved to 32-12 overall and 10-0 in the Big 12 Conference.

NU also maintained its hold on first place in the league standings with its first series sweep of OU since 2001. Nebraska, which improved to 8-4 against ranked teams in 2004, defeated the Sooners, 2-1, Saturday in the series opener.

Senior right-hander Peaches James picked up her 13th straight victory Sunday to improve to 26-5 on the year. James gave up one earned run on four hits, marking the first time this season a team has scored an earned run off James at Bowlin Stadium. In the fifth inning, James tossed her 800th career strikeout on a 3-2 pitch to Jamie Fox. James ranks third on the Nebraska all-time strikeout list

For the second straight day, the Sooner defense struggled behind left-handed pitcher Kami Keiter, committing four errors and giving up two unearned runs. Keiter gave up one earned run on five hits, strikeout out four.

NU third baseman Jessica Yoachim and designated player Jocelyn Evans had the most success against Keiter, as each produced two hits.

With the game tied 1-1, Waldecker led off the bottom of the sixth and smacked a 2-2 pitch high over the center field fence for the second home run of her career. Later, with two outs and runners on first and second, Anne Steffan reached first safely on a throwing error by Keiter. Liz Lawhorn rounded third and scored on the error to make it 3-1, Nebraska.

Oklahoma threatened to answer in the top of the seventh. Heather Scaglione and Christina Enea led off with back-to-back singles, and Jessica Leslie sacrificed to advance both runners. But James struck out Fox in three straight pitches, and then struck out Stacia Aleman to secure the 3-1 victory.

The Sooners came out swinging in the top of the first. Kristin Vesely led off and tripled to left center, as high winds made things difficult for the Husker outfielders. Norrelle Dickson followed with a shot to left, plating Vesely for the 1-0 lead. After OU’s Scaglione flied out to right, Trimboli made a diving catch in center to save a run. James struck out Leslie to end the inning.

After stranding one runner in the second, the Huskers left two on in the bottom of the third. With two outs and Steffan on first, Yoachim slapped a hard-hit shot to short for a single But Nicole Trimboli struck out to end the scoring threat.

Nebraska finally evened the score in the bottom of the fourth. James reached on an error by OU shortstop Dickson to start a two-out rally. Jocelyn Evans followed and singled down the left field line. With runners at the corners, Lawhorn sent a grounder to short and was safe on another error, as James raced home for the score.

Nebraska returns to action Tuesday, April 20, when it travels to Iowa State for a 3:30 p.m. game.