No. 16 Nebraska softball hit four more home runs as the Huskers slugged their way to a 10-2 win over Utah in a game shortened to five innings by the mercy rule. That brings Nebraska’s tally to 11 over the last three games and for the weekend after the Cornhuskers hit 20 home runs the weekend before New Mexico.
It took a little while for Nebraska to flex its msucle. The Utes scored two runs in the bottom of the first. But the Huskers responded immediately in the second. Ava Bredwell led off the inning with a home run to left-center. After Olivia DiNardo was hit by a pitch, Kacie Hoffman crushed a two-run homer to left-center to give Nebraska a 3-2 lead. Two batters later, Abbie Squier served a home run the opposite field, toward right field. The Huskers took a 4-2 lead to the bottom of the second.
Then in the fourth, Nebraska’s offense revved up again. With one out, Hannah Camenzind singled to left. Squier followed with her second home run of the day, almost to the spot where she hit her first to the opposite field. Ava Kuszak reached on a walk and Jordy Bahl reached on an error. Then two batters later, Lauren Camenzind singled through the right side to score two. Then in the fifth, Olivia DiNardo and Hoffman both hit singles. Two batters later, Squier singled to right, scoring DiNardo. A double to left by Kuszak followed, and the Huskers led, 10-2.
That was more than enough support for Bahl. After allowing two first-inning runs, Bahl retired 10 in a row before allowing a one out single in the fifth. But a double-play ball squashed the threat, and the Huskers clinched the victory.
The Huskers closed competition for the weekend at the Mary Nutter Classic, 3-2. Nebraska’s overall record of 12-4 includes a current three-game winning streak, with wins in nine of the last 11 games. Nebraska returns to Lincoln on 4-2 at the Mary Nutter Tournament. The Huskers now prepare for the Wichita State tournament, starting with South Dakota State Friday at 10 a.m., followed by nationally-ranked Oklahoma State afterward.