A line drive down the left-field line Sunday spoiled what could have been a perfect opening weekend for the Kansas University softball team in its newly christened Arrocha Ballpark.

A timely hit from Nebraska’s Nicole Trimboli in the bottom of the fifth broke up one heck of a pitcher’s duel and ended the Jayhawks’ 11-game win streak as the 17th-ranked Cornhuskers prevailed, 1-0, during the final game Sunday of the Jayhawk Classic.

“The difference in the ballgame is one base hit with a runner at second base,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “Wasn’t exactly the hardest-hit thing in the world, but they got a big hit when they needed to, and we had some scoring opportunities, and we didn’t get the big hit.”

The Jayhawks claimed a 3-1 victory over Utah in their first game Sunday. Kansas (12-5) won three of four this weekend, including a 3-0 decision Saturday over Nebraska. The two teams had the same record in the round-robin tourney, but no official champion was crowned.

“We’re still coming out of this weekend with our heads up high,” said KU senior catcher Dani May, who went 2-for-2 and scored two runs in the Jayhawks’ win against Utah. “It’s a little unfortunate that we couldn’t cap off the weekend with four wins, but it was a great tournament, and we finally feel like we have a place to call home.”

While May, a Lawrence High grad, gushed over the aesthetics of Arrocha — she said she especially enjoyed the view of Allen Fieldhouse in the background — the 300 fans attending Sunday’s second game also had a good view of two of the Big 12 Conference’s leading pitchers.

“Going into that game, I thought it would be a pitcher’s battle, and both pitchers proved me correct,” Bunge said of KU senior Kara Pierce (5-3) and NU senior Peaches James (8-3).

James struck out 12 batters to Pierce’s seven, and the two allowed only six combined hits.

“Peaches is tough, especially when you give her a zone that is a little bit wide and you give her a few things,” Bunge said. “She took advantage of that.”

Kansas University freshman Kassie Humphreys winds up to deliver a pitch in a 3-1 victory over Utah. KU suffered a 1-0 loss to Nebraska later Sunday at Arrocha Ballpark.

And Kansas couldn’t take advantage of its best opportunity to tie the game in the top of the sixth when it stranded two runners.

With one out, KU’s Destiny Frankenstein singled and reached second when Serena Settlemier’s walked. But Melaney Torres and Jessica Moppin struck out swinging to end the inning.

Nebraska, on the other hand, came through when it was faced with nearly that exact situation a half inning earlier.

After Pierce walked two of the first three Cornhuskers, Trimboli streaked a flare down the third-base line for the game-winner.

“We’re not really that worried about it,” Pierce said of the loss. “Nebraska’s a good team, and we always have good games with them. It’s a little more disappointing to know that we nearly had a perfect weekend to open Arrocha, but we’ll get over it.”