No. 10 Nebraska softball piled up 18 runs while splitting its first two games of the season. The Cornhuskers (1-1) opened their season with an 8-5 win over Washington, then lost 15-10 to No. 1 and defending national champion Texas on Friday in San Antonio.
In the season opener for both teams, the Huskies took a 1-0 lead on a home run by Gabi Toney in the top of the second inning. But in the bottom of the second, Nebraska answered. In her first at bat as a Husker, Jesse Farrell led off the inning with a home run. Later in the frame, Lauren Camenzind clubbed a three-run home run to give Nebraska a 4-1 lead. But Washington chipped away. An Alexis DeBoer homer off NU freshman Alexis Jensen cut the lead to 4-2. Then in the fourth, Toney hit a two-run home run to tie the game at four. Another DeBoer homer in the fifth put the Huskies ahead, 5-4.
The Huskers battled back. In the bottom of the fifth, Emmerson Cope led off the inning by being hit by a pitch. Cope’s pinch runner, Katelyn Canada, moved to second when Hannah Camenzind singled. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch with Farrell at the plate. Farrell then lofted a fly ball to center field, which was dropped, allowing two runs to score, giving NU a 6-5 lead. Later in the inning, Hannah Coor drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, and Jordy Frahm followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 8-5.
Jensen earned the win in the circle, throwing five innings while allowing five runs (all earned) on four home runs while also striking out 10. Frahm threw two shutout innings to grab the save.
In the second game against the Longhorns, another Farrell homer put Nebraska ahead 1-0. But Texas responded with two in the second, two more in the third and five in the fourth to build a 9-2 lead. The Huskers fought back with five runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Longhorns lead to 9-7, but Texas tallied one in the sixth and five in the seventh to open a 15-7 lead going to the bottom of the seventh. The Huskers scored three in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough.
Nebraska is next in action Saturday afternoon against No. 1 Texas. First pitch is slated for 3:35 p.m. That game will be followed by the Huskers’ matchup with host school UTSA immediately after.