James Pitches, Hits Huskers to Victory in NCAA Regional

Lincoln, Neb. --- Nebraska's Peaches James fired a complete-game shutout and provided her own run support to lead the Huskers to a 2-0 win over Creighton in the first winner's bracket game of the NCAA Lincoln Regional at Bowlin Stadium on Friday afternoon.

With the victory, Nebraska improved to 44-15 on the season and advanced to the tournament's first semifinal game scheduled for Saturday at noon.  The Huskers will play the winner of Friday's third game between Mississippi State (39-24) and top-seeded California (47-11), which followed NU's game against Creighton.

Creighton slipped to 42-16-1 on the year and fell into the loser's bracket where the Bluejays will take on Iowa (39-23) this evening at 8.

James, a senior right-hander from Papillion, Neb., yielded just three hits and struck out 12 Bluejays to improve to 36-7 on the season while celebrating her 22nd birthday.  The Big 12 Player of the Year recorded her 19th double-digit strikeout performance of the season, including her third against Creighton, on her way to her sixth straight win. James has allowed just one earned run in her last 39 innings. 

In 13 innings of scoreless regional action, James has notched 24 strikeouts to improve her single-season school record total to 371 strikeouts and her school career mark to 922 strikeouts.  James has also gone 4-of-6 at the plate in her first two regional games, while driving in four of Nebraska's eight runs.

At the plate, James added two of the Huskers' eight hits on the day, including the game-winning RBI single with one out in the top of sixth inning to drive in Nicole Trimboli from third and Trisha Tannahill from second.  Trimboli set up Nebraska's decisive inning with a one-out double off the wall in right field.

James' heroics propelled the Huskers to their 14th consecutive win over Creighton, including three victories this season. NU also defeated CU 2-0 in Lincoln on April 6, and 1-0 in eight innings in Omaha on March 24.

Tammy Nielsen slipped to 26-12 on the year, despite pitching five strong shutout innings to open the game.  Nielsen successfully pitched out of a major jam in the second inning, when Nebraska loaded the bases with no outs on three consecutive singles by Trimboli, Tannahill and James.  It was just the second time all season that Nielsen had given up three straight hits, before the Huskers accomplished the feat again in the top of the seventh inning as Devin Porter, Anne Steffan and Jessica Yoachim all notched singles but were unable to score.

Notes
Peaches James, Sr., RHP, Nebraska...celebrated 22nd birthday on Friday...22 consecutive scoreless innings...sixth consecutive win...third complete-game shutout in last five games...15th complete-game shutout this season...NU record 371 strikeouts this season...NU career record 922 strikeouts...hitting .667 (4-6) in 2004 NCAA Regional with four RBIs..last six games, hitting .533 (8-15) with six RBIs...first 49 games this season, hit .167 with 14 RBIs...last six games, three multiple-hit games - first 49 games, two multiple-hit games.

Nicole Trimboli, Sr., CF, Nebraska...hitting .429 (3-7) in 2004 NCAA Regional with one homer, one double, three runs scored and two RBIs.

Jamie Waldecker, Fr., 1B, Nebraska ...hitting .400 (2-5) in 2004 NCAA Regional with one RBI.

Trisha Tannahill, So., LF, Nebraska ...hitting .333 (2-6) in 2004 NCAA Regional with two runs scored...current team-best four-game hitting streak.