Husker Softball Drops Slugfest Against Buckeyes
The No. 21 Nebraska softball team fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 13-12 on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.
The game was an offensive standoff, as at least one team scored in every inning but the seventh and both teams had an inning with more than five runs scored. The Huskers, who moved to 20-7 (1-1 Big Ten) on the season, out-hit Ohio State 13-12, but the Buckeyes had nine extra-base hits. Both teams added four home runs on the day.
Emmerson Cope led the Husker bats, going 2-for-3 with two homers and four RBIs. Jordyn Bahl (two hits) and Kacie Hoffmann (three hits) each knocked a home run, while Hannah Camenzind added two doubles.
Cope (4-1) took the loss for the Big Red despite being the most effective in the circle. She pitched 3.1 innings of relief and allowed two runs. Hannah Camenzind started in the circle and allowed five runs, and Bahl pitched 0.1 innings and allowed six runs. Layna Gerhard (3-0) grabbed the win for OSU.
Ohio State plated its first run with a pair of doubles in the bottom of the first and took a 1-0 lead.
The Buckeyes then took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a Taylor Cruse home run.
NU’s offense sparked in the top of the third inning, as it scored six runs on six hits and two walks. Ava Kuszak kicked off the inning with a single, then advanced to second on a passed ball. Bahl knocked a two-run homer to tie the score at 2-2. Olivia DiNardo reached first on a walk, and Bella Bacon came in to pinch run for her. Hannah Camenzind doubled to score a run and went around to home on a respective throw and error. Kacie Hoffmann homered before Lauren Camenzind doubled to center field. An Ava Bredwell single sent Lauren Camenzind to the plate, and the Big Red led 6-2 going into the bottom of the third.
Ohio State tied it, 6-6, in the bottom of the third on a three-run double and grabbed an 8-6 lead on a two-run homer. OSU extended the advantage to 11-8 on its fourth home run of the day.
Bahl walked to lead off the top of the fourth and Cope hit a two-run homer to bring NU within three at 11-8.
In the top of the fifth, Kuszak reached on a fielder’s choice and Bahl singled to advance Kuszak to third. Bland got to base on an error that also scored Kuszak and sent Bahl to third, and Bahl went home on a wild pitch. Cope homered, the Huskers’ fourth of the day, to score herself and Bland and give NU the lead back at 12-11.
The Buckeyes scored on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth and held a narrow 13-12 lead going into the final inning of the day. Nebraska was then retired in order in the top of the seventh.
NU will close out the series with the Buckeyes on Sunday at Noon in what will be a non-conference game. The game will be streamed on B1G+ and can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network.