No. 3 Nebraska softball clinched its first outright conference championship in 22 years as the Cornhuskers swept Penn State in a doubleheader, 5-1 and 10-4, securing the program’s second Big Ten regular-season championship and first outright conference title since winning the Big 12 in 2004. Nebraska’s 2014 Big Ten championship was shared with Michigan.
In game one, Jordy Frahm dominated in the circle. After allowing a first-inning run, Frahm locked down the Nittany Lions’ bats, allowing three hits and no runs over the final six innings. In total, Frahm surrendered four hits and one run while striking out seven and walking none.
The game was tied at one through one inning. But in the second, Lauren Camenzind tripled to right center, driving in a run to give Nebraska (42-6, 22-1 Big Ten) the lead. Then in the fifth, Hannah Coor drove in a run with a single up the middle, pushing the lead to 3-1. A Jesse Farrell home run to center in the sixth boosted the lead to 4-1. Then in the seventh, Coor drove in a run with a single to right, growing the NU lead to four.
Game two saw Penn State (32-19, 11-12 Big Ten) bolt out to a 4-1 lead through five innings. Bridget Nemeth silenced the Huskers’ bats through five innings, allowing just one run and one hit. But in the top of the sixth, the bases were loaded with one out when Kacie Hoffmann singled up the middle, scoring two to bring Nebraska to within one. After a walk reloaded the bases, Frahm singled down the right-field line, tying the game at four. A two-run double to right by Coor put the Huskers ahead, 6-4. Hannah Camenzind followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-4.
Then in the seventh, Nessa McMillen lined her first hit at Nebraska, a double to right to push the lead to 8-4. Lauren Camenzind followed with a two-run home run to grow the lead to 10-4.
Alexis Jensen (20-2) earned the win in the circle, allowing four runs in five innings. Frahm earned her 10th save of the year by throwing two shutout innings, allowing one hit while striking out three.
The Huskers will complete their regular season Sunday at Penn State before heading to the Big Ten Tournament next week as the No. 1 seed. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, with pregame coverage beginning at 10:45 a.m. on B-107.3.