Huskers Claim Series With Second Consecutive Run-Rule
The No. 21 Nebraska softball team notched its second straight run-rule win with a 10-1 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats in five innings on Sunday in Evanston, Ill.
The Huskers moved to 31-10 (10-3 Big Ten) on the year, while Northwestern fell to 20-14-1 (9-3 Big Ten). With the series win, the Big Red snapped the Wildcats’ streak of winning 20 consecutive Big Ten series.
Samantha Bland and Kacie Hoffmann each had three hits, and Bland added a home run. Jordyn Bahl and Ava Kuszak both had two hits and two RBIs with a home run. Olivia DiNardo contributed two RBIs.
Kylee Magee (5-3) claimed the win in the circle after pitching 5.0 innings for a complete game. She allowed one run on only three hits and struck out four batters. Riley Grudzielanek (8-8) took the loss for Northwestern.
Bahl and Bland opened the game with back-to-back home runs. DiNardo walked and Hoffmann and Kuszak singled to load the bases. DiNardo and Hoffmann scored on a single by Bella Bacon and a respective Northwestern error, and NU led 4-0 after the first.
Neither team scored again until Northwestern hit a solo home run to make the score 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth.
In the top of the fifth, Hoffmann was hit by a pitch and Kuszak knocked a two-run homer to extend the lead to 6-1. Bacon singled and Bredwell reached on an error and a Lauren Camenzind groundout advanced the runners to second and third, respectively. Bahl singled to score Bacon and Bland reached on a fielder’s choice that also advanced Bredwell to third. Bredwell stole home as part of a double steal before Bland went to third on a passed ball. Hannah Camenzind walked and Nessa McMillen came into pinch run. Bland and McMillen both scored on a DiNardo two-run single. The Big Red locked up the 10-1 run-rule win.
Nebraska wraps up the series on Monday, April 14th at Northwestern. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm.