No. 18 Nebraska softball bolted out to a 9-0 lead and held on to win 12-8 Friday night at Washington. The win was the Cornhuskers’ 13th in the last 17 games as Nebraska solidifies a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
Bella Bacon broke the scoreless tie with a home run to lead off the third. After Lauren Camenzind doubled to right, Jordy Bahl hammered a two-run homer to left field to push the lead to 3-0. Then in the fourth, Hannah Camenzind led off the inning with a home run to left field. Singles by Olivia DiNardo and Ava Bredwell and a walk to Bacon loaded the bases ahead of Lauren Camenzind, who laced a two-run single up the middle. A Bahl sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 7-0. Two batters later, Ava Kuszak clubbed a two-run home run to center build the Nebraska lead to 9-0.
Facing the mercy rule and down to their last strike, the Huskies stayed alive with a two-run homer to left by Jade Bubke. After Kuszak crushed another three-run home run to left, Washington avoided being run-ruled with a three-run bottom of the sixth. The Huskies scored three in the bottom of the seventh, but could pull no closer.
Jordy Bahl (19-5) earned the win in the circle, allowing five earned runs and four hits in 5.1 innings pitched while striking out 12. Sophia Ramuno (9-5) took the loss, surrendering four earned runs in four innings pitched. Kuszak was 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI to pace the Nebraska offense. Jadyn Glab led the Washington lineup, hitting 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
Nebraska will try to clinch the series win Saturday in Seattle against the Huskies. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.