Huskers Dominate in Home Opener

A strong offense powered the No. 20 Nebraska softball team to a 14-1 five-inning victory over Northern Iowa on Saturday in the Huskers’ home opener at Bowlin Stadium.

Nebraska (16-6) scored in each of its four turns at bat, producing 12 hits including four doubles and three home runs. The 14 runs marked the 12th time this season that Nebraska has scored double-digit runs, while the Huskers posted their 12th run-rule victory of the year.

Jordyn Bahl, Samantha Bland, Olivia DiNardo and Hannah Camenzind each had two hits for the Big Red. Bahl, Bland and Abbie Squier all homered. Bahl finished 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and two RBIs, while Bland was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Hannah Camenzind went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Squier also drove in three.

In the circle, Bahl (9-3) earned the win after tossing 3.0 scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing only one hit. Emmerson Cope allowed one run in 1.0 inning before Caitlin Olensky struck out two in a perfect fifth inning to wrap up the win.

Morgan Vertz (4-2) took the loss for Northern Iowa (10-6). 

The Huskers took a quick 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Ava Kuszak walked to kick off the inning and was sent home by a Bahl home run, which came in her first at bat at Bowlin Stadium. DiNardo then hit a double and Hannah Camenzind notched a double of her own to send DiNardo to the plate. A Panther error then scored Camenzind and capped the four-run frame.

NU extended its lead with a seven-run second inning, once again kicked off by a Kuszak walk. Bland and DiNardo followed with one-out singles to load the bases. Bredwell walked to score Kuszak and a Hannah Camenzind single scored Bland and pinch runner Katelyn Caneda. Bella Bacon hit an RBI single of her own to score Bredwell and advance H. Camenzind to second. A Squier home run scored herself, Bacon and H. Camenzind, and NU led 11-0 going into the third.

The Big Red added two in the bottom of the third to stretch its advantage to 13-0. Bahl doubled to right center and Bland knocked a two-run homer.

Northern Iowa hit a home run to get on the board in the top of the fourth, but the Huskers locked up the 14-1 run-rule victory, its 12th of the season, after Cope doubled, went to third on a Squier groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

NU will play its second game of the day against Northern Colorado, starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of the matchup with the Panthers. The game will be streamed on B1G+ and can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network.

Postgame Notes

• Nebraska has notched seven innings this year with at least seven runs. 
• Nebraska scored 14 runs, which marked the 12th time in 22 games the Huskers have scored 10 or more runs.
• Nebraska posted its 12th run-rule victory in the season’s first 22 games.
• The Huskers have hit at least one home run in each of their 16 victories this year. 
• Hannah Camenzind tied her career high with three RBIs.