The No. 10 Nebraska softball team rolled to a pair of wins over South Dakota State Thursday at Bowlin Stadium. The Cornhuskers stormed back from a two-run deficit with seven straight runs to win the first game, 9-4, then dominated by mercy rule in the nightcap, winning 8-0 in five innings.
In game one, Nebraska jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. But after a solo home run by Abby Gentry in the second, a three-run home run by Bria Reibel gave the Jackrabbits a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the third, Ava Kuszak tied the game with a two-run home run to right-center. Then in the bottom of the fourth, Jordy Frahm drove in two runs with a single up the middle. Hannah Camenzind followed later in the inning with a three-run homer to push the lead to five.
Alexis Jensen (7-2) earned the win, striking out a career high 13 batters in throwing the complete-game victory. She walked two and allowed seven hits and four earned runs, including two home runs. Frahm paced the offense, hitting 3-for-4 with two RBI. Kuszak was 2-for-3 with two RBI, a double and a home run. Jesse Farrell was 2-for-3 wtih a double and an RBI. Amanda Vacanti (1-4) took the loss, allowing nine hits and nine earned runs in 3.1 innings.
After seven unanswered runs in game one, the Huskers rattled off eight straight runs in game two. Kacie Hoffmann got Nebraska on the board in the bottom of the second with a two-run home run. After Samantha Bland drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, Hannah Camenzind ripped a two-run double to left-center, pushing the lead to 5-0. Then in the third, Kuszak homered to right-center. Frahm followed with a two-run double to right, boosting the lead to 7-0. Then in the fifth, Bella Bacon led off the inning with a towering homer to left, bringing on the mercy rule.
Frahm (5-3) pitched a five-hit shutout with one walk, striking out nine. She also led the offense, hitting 2-for-2 with two doubles and an RBI. Hoffmann was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a home run.
The Huskers have won 12 of their last 13 games. They face Omaha at Bowlin Stadium Saturday at 2 p.m.