Nebraska Run Rules No. 13 South Carolina

The No. 10 Nebraska softball team opened its stay at the Mary Nutter Classic with an impressive 9-1 five-inning run-rule victory over No. 13 South Carolina on Friday afternoon in Cathedral City, Calif.

 

Playing their first of two games Friday, the Huskers powered their way to a win with a four-run third inning and a five-run fifth. Nebraska improved to 7-4 on the season with its fourth win over a top-15 team this season. The eight-run win over South Carolina marked Nebraska's first run-rule victory over a ranked opponent since the 2020 season.

 

Alexis Jensen (4-1) earned the win for Nebraska, picking up her third victory over a ranked team in her freshman season. Jensen allowed one run on just three hits with four strikeouts in 3.0 innings of work. Jordy Frahm picked up her fourth save of the season by tossing two scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts.

 

Offensively, Nebraska pounded out 13 hits with four extra-base hits. Ava Kuszak led the way with a 2-for-3 day that included a double, a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored. Jesse Farrell was 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs, including an RBI single that wrapped up the run-rule victory in the bottom of the fifth. Hannah Camenzind and Kacie Hoffmann also had two hits for the Big Red, while Hannah Coor hit a two-run homer.

 

Nealy Lamb (0-1) took the loss for South Carolina, which fell to 8-3 on the season after Nebraska snapped its seven-game win streak.

 

Nebraska opened up a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third on four hits and an error. Lauren Camenzind went to first on an error before Frahm singled to put runners on first and second. A H. Camenzind ground out advanced the two and a Farrell triple sent both across the plate. Kuszak knocked a two-run homer to score herself and Farrell and give NU a four-run lead.

 

South Carolina hit a home run in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 4-1 and had runners on second and third, but Frahm retired three straight to end the scoring threat.

 

The Big Red enjoyed another big inning, scoring five times in the fifth inning while only recording one out. Kuszak got the rally started with a double, and she scored on an RBI single from Carlie Muhlbach. Hoffmann followed with a single that scored pinch runner Samantha Bland on an outfield error. Coor then blasted a two-run homer to make it a 8-1 game. Bella Bacon and L. Camenzind then had back-to-back singles to give Nebraska six consecutive base hits. After an out, H. Camenzind reached on a single to load the bases for Farrell, who ended the game early with an RBI single on the first pitch she saw.

 

Nebraska continues play on Friday with a game against Hawaii.

Postgame Notes