James, Tobias Combine for Shutout in Win Over Missouri

Oklahoma City, Okla. -  Peaches James and Summer Tobias combined for a two-hit shutout to lead sixth-seeded Nebraska to a 5-0 win over third-seeded Missouri Friday afternoon in the first round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament. 

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With the win, the Huskers improved to 35-13 in 2003 and 21-9 all-time in the Big 12 Tournament. Nebraska advances to face second-seeded Oklahoma State at 8 p.m. at Don Porter ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. A win over the Cowboys would guarantee NU a spot in Saturday's 5 p.m. semifinal game. With a loss, Nebraska would play at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the double elimination tournament.

 

"I was really proud that we didn't get discouraged after (Erin) Kalka held us in check the first four innings," NU Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "It was a pitchers' dual up to that point, and I think the players realized that. They stayed in it mentally and made the adjustments they needed to make. It was a big step for us."

 

James (21-9) was credited with the win after holding the Tigers (31-17) scoreless on two hits and totaling five strikeouts in six innings. Tobias threw the last inning and faced four batters, striking out one.

 

Erin Kalka (19-11) took the loss after she allowed three runs on three hits while walking three Huskers and striking out seven in 5.0 innings of work. Freshman right-hander Samantha Fleeman threw the final two innings and gave up two runs on four hits.

 

Two of the Huskers' seven hits were home runs, as sophomore first baseman Sheena Lawrick and senior shortstop Amanda Buchholz both produced homers late in the game. Lawrick ruined Kalka's no-hitter in the top of the fifth when she smacked a 3-2 pitch over the right field fence for a one-out solo homer. The round tripper was Lawrick's fourth of the season - her first since April 2 at Iowa State - and broke a two-game hitless streak. After Jessica Yoachim grounded out, Anne Steffan reached on a bunt single and Kalka walked Kim Ogee. Nicole Trimboli then laced a two-out, two-run triple to left-center, plating both runners.

 

In the bottom of the fifth, Rachael McGinnis broke up James' no-hitter with a hard-hit single past second, and James then hit Jeni Schellert with a pitch. Missouri attempted a double steal, and NU catcher Amber Burgess threw McGinnis out at third. After Daisy Mettlach singled to put runners on the corners, James struck out Kristen Burke and Ashley Hays to end the inning.

 

Nebraska added two more runs to extend the lead to 5-0 in the top of the seventh. Ogee drew a leadoff walk, then stole second and third. With one out, Amanda Buchholz sent a two-run bomb over the left field fence for her team-leading 11th home run of the season for the final margin.