Nebraska held the lead throughout the first six innings vs. No. 2 LSU, but a six-run rally in the seventh led the second-ranked Tigers to an 11-6 win over the Huskers in front of a record crowd of 11,003 fans at the Frisco College Baseball Classic on Saturday night.

Nebraska (4-5) scored six runs on 11 hits and an error, while LSU (10-1) totaled 11 runs and 17 hits.

Cael Frost led the Big Red at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Devin Nunez had a 3-for-5 night with two runs scored, while Cayden Brumbaugh went 2-for-5 and drove in two runs. Joshua Overbeek was 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs scored. Case Sanderson had an RBI single, while Riley Silva also drove in a run.

Ty Horn allowed four runs on eight hits across 4.2 innings of work. Caleb Clark recorded an out in his third relief appearance of the season, while Carson Jasa dropped to 0-1 on the year after allowing three runs on three hits in one inning. Grant Cleavinger and Pryce Bender teamed up to pitch an inning, while Gavin Blachowicz dealt 1.1 strong innings in relief. Blake Encarnacion made his collegiate debut and recorded the final two outs for the NU pitching staff on Saturday night.

The Husker offense went to work early, plating three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first to jump ahead 3-0. A leadoff double off the bat of Overbeek, followed by consecutive singles from Nunez and Brumbaugh plated the game’s first run. Two more runs were added to the Husker lead when Frost sent an 0-1 pitch back up the middle for a two-RBI single.

Gabe Swansen began the bottom of the second with a full-count walk and took two bases on a wild pitch with no outs. An RBI groundout to second from Silva allowed Swansen to score from third and had Nebraska out front 4-0 through the first two innings.

Nunez’s leadoff single in the bottom of the third, followed by a pair of wild pitches placed a runner on third with one out for the Big Red. Sanderson laced a 3-2 pitch to center for a one-out RBI single that brought home Nunez and made it a four-run game after three frames.

The LSU offense came to life in the top of the fourth, as the Tigers scored three runs on four hits to trim Nebraska’s lead down to 5-3. Back-to-back doubles to open the frame scored the Tigers’ first run of the night, while an RBI groundout and an RBI single brought LSU within 5-3.

The Tigers tacked on one more in the top of the fifth to cut the NU lead in half. Three consecutive two-out singles brought LSU within a run. The Tigers appeared to tie the game, but a perfect relay throw from the NU defense allowed Hogan Helligso to apply the tag on a play at the plate to keep the Big Red ahead 5-4 through five innings.

LSU erupted for six runs on six hits and a Husker error to jump ahead 10-5 heading into the seventh-inning stretch. An RBI single and a sacrifice fly gave the Tigers their first lead of the evening, while three straight two-out RBI knocks grew the lead to five for LSU.

The Huskers got one of the runs back in the bottom of the seventh after three consecutive two-out singles from Overbeek, Nunez and Brumbaugh allowed Overbeek to score from second and make it a 10-6 game through seven innings.

Three walks loaded the bases for the Tigers in the top of the ninth, while a plunked batter plated LSU’s 11th run of the night.

Nebraska wraps up play at the Frisco College Baseball Classic with a matchup against Kansas State tomorrow afternoon. First pitch between the Huskers and Wildcats has been moved up an hour to 11 a.m. CT due to the threat of inclement weather on Sunday.

Huskers Post 12-Run Inning in Victory Over Shockers

Behind a 12-run fourth inning, the No. 18 Nebraska softball team overpowered the Wichita State Shockers and grabbed a 15-0, five-inning victory at the Shocker Invitational in Wichita, Kan., on Saturday evening. 

The Huskers’ (14-6) offense was balanced all night, as nine players had a hit and 16 notched an at bat. As a team, NU had 14 hits and posted a .467, which was its highest percentage of the season. Half of the Big Red's 14 hits came with a runner in scoring position.

Ava Kuszak continued her strong start offensively, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs. Tonight was Kuszak’s second multi-homer game of the season. Abbie Squier was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Jordyn Bahl and Bella Bacon added two hits apiece. Hannah Camenzind and Alina Felix each knocked a home run.

Nebraska used 20 players total, whether at the plate, in the circle or on base.

Bahl (7-3) grabbed the win in the circle after pitching four shutout innings and allowing only one hit while striking out six batters. Kylee Magee came in to close out the game and also allowed no runs, along with no hits. Ryley Nihart (0-2) took the loss for the Shockers (10-8). 

The Big Red held Wichita State to just one hit in the shutout performance.

The Huskers struck first in the top of the second inning. Olivia DiNardo kicked off the inning with a walk, and Natalia Hill came in to pinch run for her. Lauren Camenzind hit a sac bunt to advance Hill to second, and Bella Bacon reached on an error, which also scored Hill and gave NU a 1-0 lead.

Bahl opened the top of the third with a single, and Samantha Bland then singled and Bahl went to second. Ava Bredwell reached on a fielder’s choice and Bland advanced to second, but Bahl was out at third. DiNardo logged her first hit of the game to score Bland and make the score 2-0.  

The Big Red enjoyed a 12-run top of the fourth, led off by Hannah Camenzind’s first home run with Nebraska. Squier singled to center field and was sent home by a Kuszak home run. Bahl singled to shortstop and advanced to second and third and scored on three wild pitches. Bland walked, and Bredwell reached on a Shocker error, before the two went to second and third, respectively, on a wild pitch. DiNardo walked to load the bases, and Lauren Camenzind walked to send Bland to the plate. Williams pinch ran for DiNardo and Nessa McMillen pinch ran for Bredwell. Hannah Camenzind walked to score McMillen and Bacon singled to score Kennadi Williams and advance Lauren Camenzind to third and Hannah Camenzind to second. Squier doubled down the right field line to score the Camenzind twins. Katelyn Caneda pinch ran for Squier and Kuszak’s second home run of the inning scored Bacon and Caneda. NU led 14-0 going into the fifth. 

Alina Felix knocked her third career home run in the top of the fifth to add a run to the Big Red’s total. 

The Huskers will close the Shocker Invitational tomorrow, March 2 with a rematch against the Missouri Tigers at 12 p.m. (CT) in Wichita, Kan. The game is free to listen to on the Huskers Radio Network. 

Postgame Notes

  • Hannah Camenzind’s home run in the fourth inning was her first as a Husker and the 10th of her career. 
  • Ava Kuszak has hit at least one home run in nine of the Huskers’ 20 games this year, and two or more in two games. 
  • Nebraska posted its 11th run-rule victory in the season’s first 20 games.
  • Nebraska scored 14 runs, which marked the 10th time in 20 games the Huskers have scored 10 or more runs.
  • The Huskers have outscored their opponents 157-26 in their 14 victories this season, including a 138-19 margin in their 10 run-rule wins.
  • Today’s fourth inning marked the fifth time this season that NU posted three or more home runs in the same inning.
  • NU scored 12 runs in the fourth inning. That is the Huskers' highest-scoring inning of the season. Nebraska has scored eight or more runs in an inning six times this year.
  • The Huskers’ 15 runs are the third-most they have scored this season. 
  • Abbie Squier tied her career high with three hits. 
  • Nebraska’s team batting average in the game of .467 is its highest of the season.
  • NU had four different players with a home run in the same game for the fifth time this year.
  • The Huskers had 17 different players with an appearance at the plate.

Huskers Fall to Tigers, 7-1

The No. 18 Nebraska softball team suffered its second defeat of the weekend, falling 7-1 to the Missouri Tigers on Saturday afternoon at the Shocker Invitational in Wichita, Kan.

Hannah Camenzind (1-2) pitched a season-high 5.0 innings, but took the loss in the circle. She allowed three earned runs and seven hits. Emmerson Cope came in and pitched two scoreless innings in the sixth and the seventh. Marissa McCann (4-3) claimed the win after allowing four hits and one run.

Ava Bredwell was a bright spot for the Husker offense, as she went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Overall, the Tigers (11-9) had 10 hits, while Nebraska (13-6) was limited to four hits.

Missouri opened up the scoring with a six-run fourth inning with two RBI singles, a two-run double, an error and a fielder’s choice. 

The Huskers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth after Jordyn Bahl doubled to center field and was sent home by a Bredwell pinch-hit single. The score stood at 6-1 going into the fifth inning.

The Tigers notched another run in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 7-1.

Neither team scored for the remainder of the game, and Missouri nabbed the victory.

NU will look to immediately bounce back against the host Wichita State Shockers. The game is free to listen to across the Huskers Radio Network. 

Postgame Notes

  • Hannah Camenzind pitched 5.0 innings, a seaon high.
  • Jordy Bahl notched a double for her 17th extra-base hit in 18 games this season.

Huskers Secure Four Titles at Big Ten Championships

Nebraska track and field closed the Big Ten Indoor Championships on Saturday night in Indianapolis, Ind., with a fifth-place finish on the men’s side and sixth-place finish for the women behind four event titles. 

The Huskers swept the high jump titles as Jenna Rogers set a meet record, clearing 1.92m (6-3 ½) for the Big Ten gold medal. Tyus Wilson set a new indoor career-best (2.25m, 7-4 ½) earning the event title on the men’s side. Ela Velepec secured a team point for the Huskers with her eight-place finish (1.77m, 5-9 ¾), and Brooklyn Miller (1.77m, 5-9 ¾) rounded out the Huskers in the top 10. On the men’s side, Mason Kooi (2.16m, 7-1) and Reid Nelson (2.13m, 6-11 ¾) earned sixth and seventh, respectively, earning a combined five points for the Big Red. 

In the heptathlon, Adria Navajon earned his sixth conference title as he scored 5,579 points for the new sixth-best mark in school history. Navajon finished 2nd in the long jump, third in the 60mH and fourth in both the 1000m and the high jump. Brayden Bergkamp and Luke Noland also earned podium finishes as they scored 5,137 points for seventh and 5,076 for eighth. Bergkamp highlighted the day with a third-place finish in the high jump and Noland earned sixth-place finishes in the long jump, 60mH and pole vault. 

Axelina Johansson improved her school record and holds the Swedish national record, throwing 19.31m (63-4 ¼) to win the Big Ten Shot Put Championship. Mine De Klerk finished fifth with a throw of 17.46m (57-3 ½), and Kalynn Meyer placed eighth (16.98m, 55-8 ½). On the men’s side, two Huskers earned podium finishes as Maxwell Otterdahl (18.73m, 61-5 ½) and Cade Moran (18.55m, 60-10 ½) came in sixth and seventh, respectively. 

Micaylon Moore jumped 15.94m (52-3 ¾) in the triple jump, earning a silver medal and eight points for the Huskers. On the women’s side, Rhianna Phipps earned a bronze medal with a mark of 13.37m (43-10 ½). Velecia Williams added a podium finish of her own coming in fifth, jumping 13.13m (43-1), and Lotavia Brown jumped 12.70m (41-8), placing 12th.

Brynna McQuillen set a new school record in the 3000m, running 9:14.12, earning sixth place. Berlyn Schutz added another sixth-place finish in the mile, running 4:42.76. Niko Schultz claimed a point for the men’s team in the 800m, running 1:49.37 for eighth. 

In the men’s 4x400 relay, Tyrell Pierce, Niko Schultz, Logan Lebo and Pradeep Senthilkumar ran 3:12.21 to finish eighth and add a point to the Husker total.  

The NCAA Indoor Championships on March 14-15 in Virginia Beach, Va., are next up for the Huskers, with participants being released this Tuesday, March 4.