Courtesy Nebraska Athletics
In front of a Bowlin Stadium record crowd of 3,396, No. 4 Nebraska softball swept Iowa in a doubleheader Friday by scores of 9-1 in five innings and 5-2. The Cornhuskers (39-6, 19-1 Big Ten) have won their last 14 games and 28 of the last 29.
In game one, the Hawkeyes (25-24, 6-14 Big Ten) jumped out to a 1-0 lead two batters into the game, as Tory Bennett hit an RBI double to left. Nebraska answered immediately in the bottom of the first, as Hannah Camenzind singled through the left side to tie the game. Ava Kuszak put the Huskers ahead with a single to left field. Later in the first, Camenzind scored on a wild pitch, making it 3-1 NU. In the bottom of the second, Camenzind drove in two runs with a single to right, then Hannah Coor scored as Camenzind was tagged out at second. Then in the third, Kacie Hoffmann hit an RBI double to left, building the lead to 7-1. The Huskers tacked on two runs in the sixth to finish the run rule.
Jordy Frahm made the runs stand up. She didn’t allow another hit after Bennett’s RBI double over the final six innings, striking out 11.
Camenzind led the Nebraska offense, hitting 4-for-4 with a double and four RBI. Hoffmann was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
In game two, Iowa jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Huskers answered immediately with two runs in the bottom of the first. In the second, Hoffmann’s RBI double put the Huskers ahead 3-2. Camenzind drove in a run on an error to push the lead to 4-2. Hoffmann’s RBI single in the third pushed the lead to 5-2.
Alexis Jensen locked the Hawkeyes’ bats. In seven innings, she allowed two unearned runs and four hits while walking one and striking out eight. Hoffmann was 2-for-3 with two RBI to pace Huskers’ offense.
Nebraska tries to earn its sixth Big Ten series sweep in seven series on Senior Day Saturday at Bowlin Stadium against Iowa. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m., with pregame coverage at 12:45 p.m. on 105.3 The Bone.