Huskers Cap Series Sweep With 3-0 Win

Photo Credit: NU Athletic Communications

Jordyn Bahl threw a two-hit shutout and the No. 21 Nebraska softball team completed a three-game road sweep of the Northwestern Wildcats with a 3-0 victory on Monday afternoon.

The Huskers moved to 32-10 (11-3 Big Ten) on the season and Northwestern fell to 20-15-1 (9-4 Big Ten). 

After being named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time this season just before first pitch, Bahl (18-4) tossed 7.0 innings and struck out a season-high 14 batters and walked only one for her sixth double-digit strikeout game of the season. 

At the plate, Bahl, Samantha Bland and Abbie Squier each recorded an RBI on the day, and Bahl and Emmerson Cope each had a double.

The game was scoreless through the first four innings. Bella Bacon walked in the top of the fifth and advanced to second on an Ava Bredwell groundout. Kennadi Williams came in to pinch run for Bacon and scored on a Bland single to give the Huskers a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Cope pinch hit and led off with a double and Nessa McMillen came in to pinch run. Squier followed with a pinch-hit RBI single and McMillen crossed the plate. Bahl then doubled to score Squier and extend the lead to 3-0. 

The Huskers will return home to take on the Indiana Hoosiers on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19 at Bowlin Stadium. Friday’s game is set for 5 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on B1G+, while Saturday’s matchup on the Big Ten Network is set for 1 p.m. (CT). Both games can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network. 

Postgame Notes

• The series sweep marked the first time that the Huskers have swept Northwestern since 2017. In the series, Nebraska out-scored Northwestern 24-2.
• The last time the Wildcats were swept in a conference series was 2021 against Michigan.
• Samantha Bland’s single in the fifth inning put her at a 10-game hitting streak, which started on March 29 against Purdue. 
• Jordyn Bahl grabbed her sixth double-digit strikeout game of the season, as she had 14 on the day, her highest total this season. Bahl had 25 strikeouts in the series in only 12.0 innings.