Huskers Struggle Offensively in Loss to MU

Lincoln, Neb. ? In her first career Big 12 start, freshman left-hander Erica Peterson tossed a two-hit shutout to lead Missouri to a 1-0 win over the No. 13 Nebraska softball team before 989 fans at Bowlin Stadium Sunday afternoon. The defeat spoiled Senior Day for the Huskers, who honored Peaches James, Nicole Trimboli, Liz Lawhorn and Brittney Yolo before their final regular-season home game.

With the loss, the Huskers ended the regular season with a 38-15 overall record and a 14-3 mark in the league. Two of NU’s three league defeats came after the Huskers clinched the regular-season championship with a series sweep of second-place Texas A&M May 2.

Missouri (25-23, 12-4), which defeated NU 4-3 Saturday, became the only Big 12 team this season to sweep the Huskers. The weekend also marked the first time since back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and Arizona State at the Kia Klassic that NU has lost two straight contests.

The win was Peterson’s first career victory, as she struck out four NU players in a complete-game performance.

James (30-7) took the loss, allowing one run on three hits in her 31st complete game of the season. James struck out eight in another historical performance. In the top of the sixth inning, James retired Kathy Masterson to become the first pitcher in school history and the 10th pitcher in Big 12 history to collect 300 strikeouts in a single season. The Husker record holder, James has produced 302 strikeouts in 2004 and 853 in her career.

Missouri took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Alli Kennewell smashed James’ 1-0 offering over the centerfield fence for a one-out solo homer. The round tripper was Kennewell’s second of the season.

Meanwhile, the Huskers struggled offensively and were hitless until the bottom of the fourth when Trisha Tannahill smacked a two-out single to left. Tannahill advanced to second on a wild pitch but was stranded when Jamie Waldecker flied out to center for the third out.

Anne Steffan provided NU’s only other hit, a one-out bunt single in the bottom of the sixth. But Jessica Yoachim flied out to left, and Steffan was out at first on the double play, ending the scoring threat.

Leading off the bottom of the seventh, Nicole Trimboli ripped a shot to the right field fence, but Sarah Stringer made the play at the warning track.

The Huskers begin postseason play this weekend when they travel to Oklahoma City, Okla., for the 2004 Big 12 Softball Tournament May 12-15. Top-seeded Nebraska will face the winner of eighth-seeded Texas and ninth-seeded Iowa State Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Don Porter ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.