No. 21 Nebraska softball piled up more than 10 hits for the ninth time in the last 11 games as the Huskers (22-8, 3-1 B1G) defeated Minnesota, 8-3, Saturday at Bowlin Stadium. Eight of Nebraska’s nine starters had at least one hit as the Cornhuskers clinched a series win over the Golden Gophers (13-17, 2-4 B1G).
Minnesota jumped ahead with a first-inning run as Kayla Chavez singled up the middle to score Margaret Tobias. In the third, Nebraska answered as Olivia DiNardo singled up the middle to score Jordy Bahl. Then in the fourth, Ava Kuszak came to the plate with runners on first and third and two outs. She lined a ball off the glove of the third baseman Chavez. As the ball rolled into foul territory, Ava Bredwell scored to give the Huskers the lead. After Bahl was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Hannah Camenzind lined a three-run double down the right field line, building Nebraska’s lead to 5-1.
A two-run single by Nani Valencia off Hannah Camenzind in the top of the fifth cut NU’s lead to 5-3, but in the bottom of the fifth, with two on and two out, Emmerson Cope hit a grounder that Tobias booted, allowing two runs to score. Then in the sixth, Kacie Hoffman drove in a run with an infield single to push the lead to 8-3.
Hannah Camenzind (4-2) earned the win for Nebraska, scattering eight hits through 4.2 innings. She walked no one and struck out seven. Bahl earned her first save of the year, throwing 2.1 innings of one-hit, shutout ball. Sydney Schwartz (4-9) took the loss, allowing nine hits and five earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched.
Hannah Camenzind also led the Husker offense, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a double at the plate. Kuszak and Bredwell also had two hits each. Taylor Krapf paced the Minnesota offense, going 2-for-4 with two doubles.
Nebraska will try to sweep Minnesota Sunday at Bowlin Stadium. First pitch is slated for noon.