Huskers Claim 13th Run Rule Win on Saturday

The No. 20 Nebraska softball team capped an undefeated Saturday with a 12-4 six-inning victory over Northern Colorado at Bowlin Stadium.

The Huskers (17-6) won their first two home games of the season on Saturday by a combined score of 26-5. Nebraska’s offense scored a run in nine of its 10 innings in the two games, producing 24 hits. Against Northern Colorado, the Huskers had 12 hits, including five doubles and two homers.

Nebraska’s 12-4 victory marked the Huskers’ 13th run-rule win of the season and the 13th time NU has scored double-digit runs through the season’s first 23 games. Ava Kuszak, Jordyn Bahl and Olivia DiNardo each had two hits for the Big Red. Kuszak was 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI, Bahl finished 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs and DiNardo went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs.

In the circle, Hannah Camenzind (2-2) earned the win after allowing just one unearned run in 2.0 innings of relief. Kylee Magee started and did not allow an earned run in 2.0 innings, and Bahl closed out the game with 2.0 perfect innings that included four strikeouts.

Isabelle DiNapoli (5-3) took the loss for Northern Colorado (7-11).

The Bears loaded the bases in the top of the first, but Magee retired three straight to keep them scoreless. 

NU made the score 2-0 in the bottom of the first. Bahl drew a one-out walk and scored on a two-run homer from DiNardo.

Northern Colorado came back with a four-run third inning to take a 4-2 lead. All four runs were unearned and each run scored with two outs.

The Huskers pulled within one at 4-3 in the bottom of the third. Kuszak doubled and scored on a Bahl double. 

Nebraska then exploded for six runs in the fourth inning. Kacie Hoffman got things started with a one-out single. Abbie Squier followed with a two-out single before Hannah Camenzind ripped an RBI double down the left field line to tie the game. Kuszak was then hit by a pitch before Bahl delivered a two-run single that gave Nebraska a 6-4 lead. Samantha Bland added an RBI double and DiNardo followed with an RBI single as Nebraska grabbed a 9-4 lead.

The Huskers added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Lauren Camenzind homered with one out to make it 10-4. Squier followed with a walk and scored on a two-out RBI double from Kuszak.

Nebraska wrapped up the run-rule victory with a single run in the bottom of the sixth. Bella Bacon was hit by a pitch with one out, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on an RBI single from Alina Felix.

The Huskers will play two games tomorrow, March 9 – one against Northern Iowa at 4 p.m. (CT) and one against South Dakota State at 6:30 p.m. (CT). Both games will be streamed on B1G+ and can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network. 

Postgame Notes

• Lauren Camenzind hit her first home run as a Husker.
• The Huskers have scored 10+ runs in 13 games this season and have earned 13 run-rule victories through 23 games.
• NU only required 10 innings to grab its two victories on Saturday, and it scored in nine of the 10 innings.