James Breaks Record in Opening Round Win

Oklahoma City, Okla. ? Just hours after being named the Big 12 Player of the Year, senior right-handed pitcher Peaches James showed why she was selected for the award in a dominating complete-game 2-1 win over Texas in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament Wednesday evening. 

 

A four-time, first-team All-Big 12 selection, James did not give up an earned run, allowing only three hits in seven innings of work. She also recorded her 16th double-digit strikeout game of the season, striking out 13 Longhorns, just one shy of her season high. James also broke the school record for career strikeouts in the process.

 

James struck out six consecutive batters from the first to the third innings to break the record. She tied Leigh Ann Walker with 858 career strikeouts by striking out Alexis Garcia to start the third. James then broke the record one batter later when she struck out Jackie Williams for career strikeout No. 859.

 

James (31-7) held the Longhorns in check long enough for Nebraska’s offense to break through against Texas starter Christina Gwyn (8-15).

 

The Longhorns broke a scoreless tie with a run in the top of the fifth. Garcias reached on a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jackie Williams then laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached first base safely when catcher Brittney Yolo’s throw went into right field, allowing Garcias to score.

 

Nebraska answered right back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Redshirt freshman Carmen Kier drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a groundout by freshman Devin Porter. Junior Anne Steffan, a second-team All-Big 12 selection, reached on a bunt single and stole second to put runners on second and third for sophomore Jessica Yoachim. A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Yoachim doubled to left, scoring Kier and Steffan and giving James the only runs she would need. The double marked the first extra-base hit and the first game-winning RBI of Yoachim's career.

 

Nebraska had a chance to score earlier in the game, but came up empty. Senior Liz Lawhorn and Kier drew back-to-back walks to start the inning and Porter sacrificed the runners to second and third. Steffan then struck out and sophomore pinch-hitter Katie Linke grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.

 

With the win, Nebraska (39-15) advanced to play the winner of tomorrow’s game between fifth-seeded Oklahoma and fourth-seeded Baylor. First pitch for tomorrow’s game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and can be heard live on Huskers.com. Texas (24-24) falls to the loser’s bracket and will face the loser of the Oklahoma-Baylor game in an elimination contest set for 2 p.m.