Jordy Bahl hit a grand slam and threw a three-hit shutout as No. 20 Nebraska softball pummeled Iowa, 12-0, Friday in Iowa City. The game was shortened to five innings by the mercy rule. It was the Cornhuskers’ 17th mercy-rule win of the season, tying a school record.
Nebraska took control of the game in the second inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Lauren Camenzind singled to left, driving in the first run of the game. Then Bahl crushed a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left field for a grand slam to push Nebraska’s lead to five. Later in the inning, Olivia DiNardo flared a double to left field, driving in the sixth run of the inning.
The Huskers picked up where they left off in the third. After a leadoff walk to Samantha Bland, Bella Bacon doubled to left-center, scoring Bland. Lauren Camenzind reached on an infield single and Bahl was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. After Hannah Camenzind hit a fielders’ choice grounder to the pitcher on which Bacon was forced out at the plate, Ava Kuszak came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Kuszak flied out to centerfield, allowing Lauren Camenzind to score. Hannah Camenzind tagged from first base, started toward second and got caught in a rundown. As she retreated toward first, Bahl was able to score from second on the sacrifice fly, pushing Nebraska lead to 9-0. Lauren Camenzind hit a two-run double to left in the fourth to make it 11-0, and Hannah Camenzind scored on a wild pitch to push the lead to 12.
Bahl (15-3) made sure the runs held up. Iowa had two runners on in each of the first three innings, but each time, Bahl was able to get through the inning without giving up a run. She ended the game by retiring the last eight batters she faced, stretching her streak of innings without giving up an earned run to 27.1.
The victory was Nebraska’s 14th in the last 17 games. The Huskers look to clinch the conference series Saturday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.