No. 20 Nebraska softball polished off an undefeated first home weekend, run-ruling Northern Iowa, 9-1 in six innings, before needing nine innings to top South Dakota State, 5-4. The Cornhuskers (19-6) have now won six straight games entering Big Ten play, which starts Friday at Ohio State.
The Panthers (11-8) jumped ahead, 1-0 in the top of the first. But the Huskers answered with a bottom of the first inning run to tie the game. Then in the third, Abbie Squier ignited the offense with a home run. After Ava Kuszak singled and Jordy Bahl drew a walk, Samantha Bland reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt. Olivia DiNardo hit a double play grounder to shortstop that allowed both Kuszak and Bahl to score to give NU a 4-1 lead. Kacie Hoffman tripled to left, then scored when Hannah Camenzind doubled, pushing the lead to 5-1. Then in the fourth, Ava Bredwell drew a walk and Kuszak doubled to right-center. Bahl clubbed a three-run homer to center to push the lead to 8-1. After Bland reached on an error, Hoffman singled to right to score Bland and make it 9-1, setting up Nebraska 14th mercy-rule win of the year.
Hannah Camenzind earned the win in the circle, allowing five hits and one run in five innings pitched. Kuszak, Hoffman and Hannah Camenzind had two hits each.
The game against the Jackrabbits (9-13) was more hotly contested. A two-run home run by Abby Gentry in the first put SDSU on the board and accounted for all the scoring until a two-run single by DiNardo tied the game. Then in the sixth, Bahl cashed in a one-out walk with a sacrifice fly, giving Nebraska a 3-2 lead. But in the top of the seventh with two outs, Madi Conklin homered to left to tie the game.
Then in the eighth, an error by Lauren Camenzind allowed Akayla Barnard to score from second, giving the Jackrabbits a 4-3. A Squier home run in the bottom of the eighth tied the game at four. SDSU mounted a threat in the ninth with runners at second and third. But Bahl struck out Barnard looking to end the inning. Then in the bottom of the ninth, Hoffman drew a lead-off walk. Hannah Camenzind hit a fielder’s choice grounder to second, erasing Hoffman. Hannah Camenzind moved to third on an error on a ball hit by Lauren Camenzind. Then Bella Bacon hit a grounder to second. The Jacks got the force out at second, but Emma Vike’s throw to first was in trying to complete the double play, allowing Hannah Camenzind to score the winning run.
Bahl earned the win, allowing five hits and four runs (three earned) in nine innings while striking out seven. Amanda Vacanti took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) in 8.2 innings pitched. She walked four and struck out two. Kuszak and DiNardo paced the Huskers offense with two hits a piece.
Nebraska now prepares for its Big Ten opener Friday at Ohio State, with first pitch at 5 p.m.