Jordy Bahl’s first full game as a Husker was worth the wait. The two-time All-American pitcher, who was injured in the third inning of her first game at Nebraska in last year’s season opener, threw a complete game in the circle and clubbed a two-run home run to pace the Huskers to a 7-1 win over No. 6 Tennessee Thursday night in Clearwater, Fla., in the season opener for both teams.
Tennessee took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a flare double to center field by Sophia Nugent. Nebraska bats had been quiet, mustering just one hit with 10 strikeouts through 4.2 innings against Lady Vols All-American pitcher Karlyn Pickens. But with two outs in the fifth, Lincoln native Abbie Squier, herself returning to action after missing all last year with injury, lined a single to center to keep the inning alive. Lauren Camenzind chopped a grounder up the first-base line that was mishandled. With two on and two out, Samantha Bland rolled a grounder toward third. Tennessee third baseman McKenna Gibson grabbed it and threw wildly to first base, allowing Bland to reach base and Squier to score. When the ball kicked down the first-base line in foul territory, Camenzind and Bland were able to circle the bases, giving NU a 3-1 lead. Ava Kuszak followed with a single to right. Then on a 1-0 pitch, Bahl smashed a two-run homer to left to push Nebraska’s lead to 5-1.
That was more than enough for Bahl in the circle. In the final three innings, she allowed just two hits, ending the game with a double play grounder to the shortstop Kuszak to seal the win. The Huskers tacked on two more runs in the seventh for good measure.
Bahl allowed five hits and just one run in a complete game victory, her first win as a Husker. She allowed no walks and struck out seven. Meanwhile, Pickens took the loss, allowing five unearned runs and five hits in five innings while striking out 11. The Huskers offense was paced by Bland, who was 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
The win was Nebraska’s first against a top 10 foe since Feb. 22, 2018, when the Cornhuskers took down No. 6 Texas A&M. It was also just the second all-time win for Nebraska against the Lady Vols in six tries.
Nebraska now prepares to face Southern Miss at 3 p.m. Friday, then Bethune-Cookman at 6 p.m. The second game will be aired on KLIN with pregame coverage at 5:45 p.m.