Huskers Put Together Complete Performance in 11-1 Win
Jordyn Bahl tossed a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts and added three hits and five RBIs at the plate, as the No. 21 Nebraska softball team notched an eight-run second inning to down the Northwestern Wildcats by a score of 11-1 in five innings on Saturday in Evanston, Ill.
Nebraska improved to 30-10 (9-3 Big Ten) on the season to match its win total from last season. Northwestern fell to 20-13-1 (9-2 Big Ten).
NU out-hit the Wildcats 10-2 and was 4-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Big Red’s eight-run second inning included a Northwestern error, a bases-loaded walk to Lauren Camenzind, a Bahl two-run double, a Samantha Bland two-run single and a Hannah Camenzind two-run home run.
Bahl was 3-for-4 on the day and had a three-run homer in the top of the fifth, along with the two-run double in the second to post a career-high five RBIs. Bland and H. Camenzind each added two RBIs on two hits apiece.
Bahl (17-4) grabbed the win in the circle after pitching 5.0 innings with only two hits and one run. She also grabbed 11 strikeouts for her fifth double-digit strikeout outing of the season.
Kacie Hoffmann opened the top of the second with a double to left center and Ava Kuszak walked to put two runners on. Hoffmann scored on a sac bunt by Bella Bacon and throwing error from Northwestern. Kuszak went to third on the error and Bacon was on first. Ava Bredwell walked to load the bases. Lauren Camenzind worked the Huskers’ second straight walk and Kuszak crossed the plate to bring the score to 2-0. Bahl doubled to score Bacon and Bredwell. Bland logged a single up the middle and L. Camenzind and Bahl scored to put the Husker lead at 6-0. Hannah Camenzind hit a two-run homer and NU extended its lead to 8-0.
The Wildcats loaded the bases and were threatening in the bottom of the second, but a force out at home and a strikeout from Bahl kept Northwestern scoreless. The Wildcats got on the board in the bottom of the third with a solo home run.
Bredwell and L. Camenzind both singled in the top of the fifth before Bahl knocked a three-run homer to lock up the 11-1 run-rule victory.
The Huskers will continue the series with Northwestern Sunday, April 13. The game is set to start at 4 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on the Big Ten Network. It can also be heard across the Huskers Radio Network.