Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Nebraska (Fiesta Bowl Tournament)
Softball Edged Out by No. 4 Nebraska
2/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 7, 2003
PHOENIX - The Fresno State softball team used outstanding defense and had an admirable pitching performance but when it came to down a call beyond their control all the Bulldogs could do would be to walk away from a tough 1-0 loss to fourth-ranked Nebraska in their season opener at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament.
Sophomore All-America pitcher Jamie Southern and Husker junior hurler Peaches James held their respective opponents at bay when it counted the most. However, Southern never received the calls on the inside corner, including the one which froze a Nebraska All-American at the plate that would have sent a scoreless game into the top of the seventh.
With two outs and a 2-2 count on All-America outfielder Kim Ogee in the top of the sixth inning, Southern stifled Ogee and left her standing at home with her bat frozen in time on a change up that floated down the heart of the plate. However, Southern did not get the call and Ogee took advantage of new life and stroked a RBI single to left field for the winning run.
Nebraska, which returns seven starters from a 50-14 team that advanced to the Women's College World Series last season, tallied one run on eight hits and had one error.
Fresno State, which has 11 newcomers on its squad, had four hits and committed no errors.
In the circle, James went the distance and struck out seven while Southern walked six and struck out 10.
For the Bulldogs, junior designated player Shasta Lewis went 2-3 while junior right fielder Lori Hoffman and junior first baseman Monnaye Bernal each had a hit.
Fresno State falls to 10-7 all-time against Nebraska and had its three-game win streak snapped versus the Cornhuskers. In school history, Fresno State is now 17-9 in season openers and 13-5 under 18th-year head coach Margie Wright.
