Nebraska brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth inning, but the Huskers fell 5-2 in the series opener at UCLA on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles.

Nebraska (7-9, 1-3 Big Ten) scored two runs on eight hits and a pair of errors, while UCLA (14-4, 3-1 Big Ten) recorded five runs on seven hits.

Tyler Stone was 2-for-4 on the night with a double, home run and two RBI. Cayden Brumbaugh went 2-for-4 with a double, while Max Buettenback, Will Jesske, Dylan Carey and Robby Bolin had one hit each.

Will Walsh dropped to 2-3 on the season after allowing four runs on six hits in 6.1 innings of action. The southpaw struck out six batters and issued two walks. Drew Christo surrendered a run on one hit and two walks in 0.2 innings, followed by Caleb Clark dealing a scoreless eighth inning.

UCLA took a 1-0 lead in the second after a two-out double to the wall in right-center, followed by an RBI single to right field had the Bruins ahead by a run through two innings.

The Huskers threatened in the top of the fourth with Buettenback’s leadoff double down the left-field line, but a pair of groundouts and a strikeout prevented the Huskers from plating the tying run.

The Bruins doubled the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out solo homer to left field off the bat of Payton Brennan.

Stone led off the fifth inning with a double into the left-center gap to give Nebraska a leadoff double for the second consecutive inning. The NU offense loaded the bases with two outs in the inning, but a flyout to the warning track in right field off the bat of Buettenback put an end to the inning.

Devin Nunez reached on a full-count walk in the top of the sixth, before Stone blasted a 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall for a game-tying two-run homer.

UCLA scored three runs on two hits and an NU error to take a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh. An infield single and a walk had runners on first and second, followed by a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners over.

A second walk in the inning loaded the bases for the Bruins, while a sacrifice fly to deep right allowed the go-ahead run to come home. An RBI single through the right side doubled the lead to 4-2, and a wild pitch in the next at-bat grew the lead to 5-2 through seven innings.

The Huskers threatened in the top of the ninth inning, bringing the tying run to the plate with one out. Joshua Overbeek reached on a swinging strikeout in the dirt, followed by Carey’s single to left field had runners on first and second with one out. A strikeout and a pickoff at first extinguished the Big Red’s scoring chances and clinched the 5-2 win for the Bruins.

Nebraska and UCLA continue the weekend series tomorrow afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles. First pitch between the Huskers and Bruins is set for 4 p.m. CT on B1G+.

Gordon Set for Royals Hall of Fame Induction

Former Nebraska baseball standout Alex Gordon becomes the 31st member of the Royals Hall of Fame, as the Kansas City Royals announced Gordon as the lone inductee in the 2025 class on Friday morning.

Gordon will be inducted in a ceremony on June 13 before the Royals play the A’s at Kauffman Stadium and will receive a blue jacket, joining the likes of his former manager, Ned Yost, and other team legends from George Brett to Bo Jackson.

Taken with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft, Gordon was a three-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner in left field while also winning the 2014 Platinum Glove Award.

The outfielder helped Kansas City win a pennant in 2014 and the World Series in 2015, which was the Royals’ first World Series title since 1985.

Gordon completed his 14-year career in Kansas City ranking in the top 10 in Royals history in several categories, including games played (1,753, 6th), home runs (190, 5th), RBI (749, 7th), hits (1,643, 6th), walks (684, 3rd), doubles (357, 5th), total bases (2,622, 6th) and first with 121 hit-by-pitches.

Huskers Win Big Ten Opener at Ohio State

The No. 21 Nebraska softball team hit three home runs Friday night at Ohio State to open Big Ten Conference play with a 9-5 victory in Columbus.

Nebraska (20-6, 1-0 Big Ten) trailed 3-1 after three innings before scoring eight consecutive runs to take a 9-3 lead into the final half inning. The Huskers then held on after Ohio State scored twice in the bottom of the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate.

Jordyn Bahl (11-3) earned the complete-game victory for Nebraska, which won its seventh straight game. Bahl allowed five runs (two earned) and posted a season-high 12 strikeouts while working around six walks.

Offensively, Bahl, Hannah Camenzind and Ava Bredwell each homered for Nebraska. Hannah Camenzind went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, while her twin sister Lauren drove in two runs. Bahl, Olivia DiNardo and Bella Bacon each had two hits for the Huskers, who totaled 13 hits, including four doubles and three homers.

Lorin Boutte (9-4) took the loss for Ohio State, which fell to 18-6-1 on the season and 0-1 in Big Ten play.

Ohio State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. A leadoff double and a passed ball gave the Buckeyes a runner at third with one out before the game’s first run scored on an RBI ground out.

Nebraska threatened to answer in the top of the second. Bella Bacon was hit by a pitch with one out and Hannah Camenzind followed with a single. After a ground out, Ava Bredwell drew a walk to load the bases with two outs but a strikeout ended the inning.

The Huskers did answer in the top of the third when Bahl blasted a one-out solo home run to tie the game at 1-1.

Ohio State came right back with a two-out RBI double and RBI single in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead.

Nebraska responded again, plating three runs in the top of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. Bacon led off with a double before Hannah Camenzind hit a towering two-run homer to center field to tie the game. Bredwell followed with a solo home run two batters later to give Nebraska its first lead of the game.

The Huskers scored for the third straight inning with a two-run top of the fifth. Samantha Bland got things started with a one-out double and Olivia DiNardo followed with a single. Hannah Camenzind then scored Bland and pinch runner Kennadi Williams with a two-out, two-run double that stretched Nebraska’s lead to 6-3.

Neither team scored in the sixth before Nebraska added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Bahl led off with a single and advanced to third on a one-out double from DiNardo. Bacon then put down a perfect bunt that not only drove in Bahl, but Bacon beat the throw for an RBI single. Lauren Camenzind then scored DiNardo and Bacon with a two-out, two-run double to make it a 9-3 lead for the Big Red. Nebraska nearly added a fourth run in the frame on a two-out single up the middle from Abbie Squier, but Lauren Camenzind was thrown out at home attempting to score from second base.

Trailing by six runs, Ohio State loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh on an error and back-to-back walks. The Buckeyes plated one run on an RBI ground out and another on a two-out RBI single. A third walk of the inning brought the tying run up to the plate with two outs before Bahl recorded her 12th strikeout of the night to wrap up the victory.

Nebraska and Ohio State continues their series on Saturday. In a time change due to expected inclement weather, first pitch on Saturday will be at 11 a.m. (Central).

Post-Game Notes

  • Nebraska hit three home runs in the game. The Huskers – who are leading the nation in home runs per game – have hit at least three home runs in a game 10 times this season.
  • The Huskers improved to 20-0 this season when hitting a home run.
  • Hannah Camenzind went 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs. Her three hits tied her career high and marked the second three-hit game of her career.
  • Jordyn Bahl homered in the third inning, her 10th home run of the season. The homer extended her hitting streak to 10 games, as she became the first Husker to have a 10-game hitting streak since Brooke Andrews in 2023.
  • The home run was Bahl’s 23rd extra-base hit of the season in only 25 games. Entering the week, Bahl was tied for the national lead in extra-base hits.
  • Bahl finished 2-for-4 to post her 13th game of the season with multiple hits.
  • In the circle, Bahl had a season-high 12 strikeouts. That marked her third double-digit strikeout game of the season and the 14th time in her career she has struck out 10 or more batters.
  • Bahl’s fifth strikeout of the game marked her 100th strikeout of the game and the 500th of her career.
  • Ava Kuszak played in the 100th game of her career on Friday night.

Huskers to Play Spring Match in Ord

Nebraska volleyball will play a spring match against South Dakota State in Ord on Saturday, May 3 at 2 p.m. The match will take place at Ord High School. 

Tickets will still go on sale to the public Saturday, April 12 at 8 a.m. at Ord High School, starting at Door 19 on the east side of the new gym. Tickets for the match are $15. All seats are general admission. Tickets must be purchased in person, with cash only, by someone at least 16 years old. A maximum of four tickets are available per person. Lost tickets will not be replaced. Tickets will not be available through the Nebraska athletic ticket offices.

Doors to the match will open at 12:30 p.m. The Huskers will sign autographs following the match.  

For the fourth consecutive year, the Huskers' spring match will be televised statewide on Nebraska Public Media and streamed online on B1G+. In addition to television and streaming coverage, the match will air on select Huskers Radio Network affiliates and the official Huskers App.

The trip back to Ord continues Nebraska’s tradition of touring the state for spring volleyball matches. Since 2007, Nebraska has played spring matches in North Platte, Scottsbluff, Grand Island, Norfolk, Wayne, Ogallala, Kearney and McCook.

The Huskers now have two matches scheduled this spring. Nebraska will host Kansas at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. as part of The Husker Games presented by FNBO. Tickets are on sale now.