Huskers Set for Troy Cox ClassicHuskers Set for Troy Cox Classic
Softball

Huskers Set for Troy Cox Classic

The No. 18 Nebraska softball team will travel to Las Cruces, N.M., to take part in its fourth straight Troy Cox Classic on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Huskers will play five games over the course of the three days.

NU will open the tournament against Texas A&M - Corpus Christi on Friday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. (CT) and will compete against host New Mexico State on Friday at 3 p.m. (CT). The Big Red will play two games on Saturday - one against Montana at 10 a.m. (CT) and one against Northern Colorado at 12:45 p.m. (CT). The Huskers will finish the tournament with a rematch against Montana at 10 a.m. (CT) on Sunday, Feb. 16. 

Nebraska opened its season last weekend with a 3-2 showing at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, highlighted by an impressive 7-1 win against No. 6 Tennessee. NU collected run-rule victories over Southern Miss (12-2, 5 inn.) and Bethune-Cookman (9-1, 5 inn.) before taking losses to No. 11 Texas Tech (6-5) and No. 19 Mississippi State (3-0).

Nebraska is ranked in all four major polls this week. The team was tabbed No. 18 by the NFCA, No. 19 by D1 Softball and No. 17 by ESPN/USA Softball and Softball America. 

All five games this week - and every game this season - will have a free radio broadcast with Nate Rohr on the call. The radio broadcast is available at Huskers.com/listen and on the official Huskers app. 

Leading Off

  • The 2025 season marks the fourth straight year the Huskers have competed in the Troy Cox Classic, and the sixth overall.
  • The Huskers moved up one spot in the NFCA Poll to No. 18. 
  • Two of Nebraska’s three most recent no-hitters have come in Las Cruces, both against this week’s opponents (2023 at New Mexico State and 2015 vs. Montana). 
  • Ava Kuszak led the offense at the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a .467 batting average, seven hits, two home runs, six runs and six RBIs.
  • All five pitchers saw time in the circle in Florida and a total of 23 student-athletes saw the field, while 14 made at least one start.
  • For the second straight week, the Big Red is ranked in all four polls -- No. 18 in the NFCA Poll, No. 17 in the USA Softball and Softball America polls and No. 19 in the D1 Softball poll.
  • Nebraska’s team captains for the 2025 season are Jordy Bahl, Mckinley Malecha and Abbie Squier.
  • The Huskers own a 20-5 all-time record at the Troy Cox Classic.

Troy Cox/Las Cruces History
Nebraska has played 115 games in Las Cruces in its 50-year history. The Huskers boast an 80-35 all-time record in Las Cruces, including a 46-15 mark under Rhonda Revelle.

  • Nebraska is 32-7 in its last seven trips to Las Cruces, which dates back to 2012. Overall, the Huskers have won 35 of their last 42 games at the NM State Softball Complex.
  • The Huskers own a record of 20-5 all time at the Troy Cox Classic, including a 5-0 record in 2012.
  • NU went 4-1 at last year’s Troy Cox Classic with two wins over Sacramento State and one over both New Mexico State and Montana.
  • 13 different Husker athletes have experience playing in at least one game at the Troy Cox Classic.

Huskers Open Strong in the Circle
Nebraska’s pitching staff had a solid opening weekend and all five pitchers made an appearance in at least one game. 

  • As a team, the Huskers posted an ERA of 1.18, which ranks 16th in the nation and second in the Big Ten Conference. Notably, three of NU’s outings were against top-25 squads.
  • The Big Red also registered an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 7-to-1, which is fifth nationally and second in the Big Ten. 
  • Jordy Bahl pitched two complete games for Nebraska, which included 17 strikeouts, zero batters walked and only one earned run across 13.2 innings. Bahl collected the win against then-No. 6 Tennessee. 
  • Hannah Camenzind made her debut for the Huskers against Bethune-Cookman, where she pitched three innings and allowed no earned runs, while striking out three batters.
  • Emmerson Cope pitched a total of five innings over two appearances against Southern Miss and then-No. 24 Mississippi State. She didn’t allow a run or a walk. 
  • Kylee Magee also pitched in her first games for the Huskers, compiling a record of 1-1 that included a 12-2 run-rule victory over Southern Miss. Magee struck out seven batters across two starts totaling 5.0 innings, as she is limited early this season after returning from a season-ending injury in 2024.
  • Caitlin Olensky pitched one shutout inning in the 9-1 win against Bethune-Cookman.

Huskers Utilized Depth in Florida
Twenty-three different Huskers saw playing time at the NFCA Leadoff Classic and 14 started at least one game.

  • Four players started at two different positions throughout the weekend – Jordy Bahl (pitcher, first base), Hannah Camenzind (pitcher, center field), Olivia DiNardo (catcher, designated player) and Emmerson Cope (right field, designated hitter). 
  • The only positions to have the same player start all five games in Florida were third base (Samantha Bland), shortstop (Ava Kuszak) and left field (Abbie Squier). 
  • Eight athletes started in at least two different spots in the batting order for the Big Red.

What Nebraska Returns in 2025
Nebraska’s 2025 roster consists of 25 total athletes. Fourteen of those are returners.

Huskers Hit the Portal
Nebraska utilized the transfer portal this offseason, bringing in six new players -- Hannah and Lauren Camenzind and Kacie Hoffman from Arkansas, Olivia DiNardo from Arizona, Kylee Magee from Arizona State and Ava Kuszak from Wisconsin.

  • Hannah Camenzind was a second-team All-SEC member in 2023. Over her two seasons with the Razorbacks, she posted a 14-3 record with 3.11 ERA over 119.1 total innings. At the plate, she batted .308.
  • Lauren Camenzind was a third-team NFCA All-South Region member in 2023. Over her two seasons at Arkansas, she played in 86 games (79 starts) at both catcher and shortstop.
  • DiNardo racked up numerous accolades during her two years at Arizona. She was a second-team NFCA All-West Region member in 2023 and a Third-Team member in 2024 and was named a Second-Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honoree in 2023. Over the course of two seasons with the Wildcats, DiNardo started 102 games and built up a batting average of .340, along with 15 doubles, 20 home runs and 74 RBIs.
  • Hoffman played in 106 games with 96 starts during her time with Arkansas. She hit .244 and logged 16 doubles, 15 home runs and 47 RBIs. 
  • Kuszak earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and third-team NFCA All-Great Lakes Region accolades in 2024. During her two seasons at Wisconsin, she played in 76 games with 65 starts and notched 16 doubles, 10 home runs and 33 RBIs on a .278 batting average.
  • Magee was named a member of the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team at Arizona State in 2023. She suffered an injury early in the 2024 season. She pitched in 27 games with 24 starts and compiled a 3.51 ERA and two saves, along with striking out 79 batters in 89.2 innings.

Huskers Earn Preseason Recognition
The Big Red have garnered preseason honors, both team and individual, in 2025.

  • For the second straight season, the Huskers were ranked in every preseason poll. NU earned its highest spot from D1 Softball, who tabbed it No. 14. Nebraska was ranked No. 16 by USA Softball/ESPN, No. 19 by the NFCA Preseason Coaches Poll and No. 21 by Softball America.
  • Jordy Bahl received numerous preseason honors as an individual. She was a member of the USA Softball Top 53 Watchlist and was named the No. 2 Player to Watch and the No. 2 Pitcher to Watch by D1 Softball. She was also recognized as a preseason first team All-American by both D1 Softball and Softball America, along with being named the No. 9 Player to Watch by Softball America.
  • Nessa McMillen was tabbed a Freshman to Watch by Softball America. McMillen was a four-time all-state and all-conference selection at Blair High School. 

Huskers Returning From Injuries
Nebraska faced significant adversity in 2024, as a total of six players suffered season-ending injuries, including four that are returning for the 2025 season. Additionally, Arizona State transfer Kylee Magee had to use the offseason for rehab. 

  • Jordy Bahl suffered a knee injury in the Huskers’ 2024 season opener that required season-ending surgery. Bahl was a First-Team All-American, the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and one of 10 national finalists for player of the year in 2022 and 2023. 
  • Abbie Squier, a returning All-Big Ten and all-region selection, returns after being out for the 2024 season due to surgery. In 2022 and 2023, she was the Big Red’s starting left fielder. 
  • Dakota Carter, the Huskers’ designated player, was deemed out for the 2024 season before it even began. In 2023, she scored 13 runs as a pinch runner and appeared in 39 games. 
  • Caitlin Olensky suffered a season-ending injury in the Huskers’ conference opener against Illinois last year. Before her injury, she compiled a record of 3-2 with a team-best 3.30 ERA.
  • Emmerson Cope was out for almost a month of the 2024 season after battling a back injury. When she was in the lineup, the Topeka, Kan., native amassed an ERA of 4.76 in the circle. She racked up 21 hits, 10 runs, six homers and 19 RBIs. 
  • Talia Tokheim missed the first 23 games of the season while rehabbing an injury from 2023. She returned for nine games before suffering another season-ending injury in game three of the Penn State series. In her limited time on the field, she notched 46 total bases and seven home runs.
  • Kylee Magee suffered a season-ending injury after racking up six appearances with four starts in her sophomore year with the Sun Devils. In her first two years at Arizona State, she struck out 79 batters in 89.2 innings.

A Look at the Huskers Freshmen
The Huskers welcome an impressive freshman class for the 2025 season that includes two California products and two Nebraska natives. Carlie Muhlbach, a 2025 signee, enrolled at NU  in January and is on the Huskers’ roster but intends to redshirt this season.

  • Natalia Hill, a Norwalk, Calif., native, was a two-time first-team All-California infield selection and a first-team All-California outfield selection. As a senior, Hill helped her high school team to a state championship, notching 46 hits, 33 RBIs and seven homers on a .549 batting average.
  • Blair, Neb., native Nessa McMillen was a four-time All-State selection and a four-time all-conference honoree. McMillen batted .538 as a senior and registered 14 doubles, three triples and 13 home runs.
  • Macie Vickers, another California product, was a three-time all-league selection and two-time Escalon Offensive Player of the Year. Vickers was limited by an injury as a senior, but batted .604 as a junior with seven doubles, three triples and four home runs.
  • Lincoln native Kennadi Williams was a First-Team All-Nebraska and Super-State selection as a senior and helped her team to four state tournaments, including winning a state title as a sophomore. As a senior, Williams hit .450 and racked up 17 stolen bases, while leading Class A in runs scored.

Scouting Texas A&M - Corpus Christi (2-3)
The Islanders traveled to the Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas, last weekend and finished with a record of 2-3. Their wins came over Bryant and Sam Houston, and the losses came to New Mexico, Bryant and Tulsa. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi hit .218 and its pitching staff owned an ERA of 3.98.

  • Zoey Stewart led the way offensively, posting a batting average of .429 across seven at bats, producing three htis. Skylar Heger was second on the team with a .400 average. She had four hits and added a home run. 
  • Paolina Baez opened the season with a .286 batting average, four hits, two runs, two doubles, six RBIs and a homer. 
  • Malia Williams was the Islanders’ go-to pitcher. She threw 12.2 innings and a complete game, while posting an ERA of 1.66. Williams walked 11 batters, allowed 11 hits and grabbed a 2-1 record.
  • Holly Ayala saw the second-most action in the circle with 9.1 innings. Ayala logged an ERA of 4.50 and went 0-1 on the weekend. She allowed five walks and six earned runs. 
  • Kathleen Rodriguez is in her fourth season with Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, with a total record of 72-76. 

Scouting New Mexico State (4-2)
New Mexico State saw a solid first weekend, racking up a record of 4-2 at the New Mexico State Invitational. They collected two wins over both Colorado State and Kansas City and two losses to UC Santa Barbara. The Aggies out-totaled their opponents in every offensive category except doubles, and their pitchers totaled an ERA of 3.76. 

  • Faith Aragon pitched the most innings for the Aggies over the weekend with 15.0. She allowed an opponent batting average of .322, along with 11 earned runs. Aragon also allowed 19 hits and 14 total runs.
  • Taryn Bennett, Desirae Spearman and Jaileen Mancha split a majority of the rest of the load for New Mexico State. Mancha had the lowest ERA on the team with a 1.05, and she allowed six hits across 6.2 innings. Spearman pitched 8.0 innings and grabbed a 1-0 record, while striking out a team-high five batters. Bennett posted an ERA of 3.36 across 8.1 innings and allowed 11 hits. 
  • Spearman was also one of the Aggies’ offensive leaders, as she notched a batting average of .600 across 15 at bats, along with nine hits, three home runs and six RBIs.
  • Lauren Garcia, the Conference USA Player of the Week, also had a .600 batting average on 15 at bats. She also notched nine hits with 12 RBIs and four home runs, along with an on-base percentage of .667. 
  • Devin Elam racked up 24 at bats for New Mexico State, the most on the team. She earned 10 hits and six runs and added four doubles. 
  • Kathy Rodolph is in her 22nd season as the head coach of the Aggies. She has grabbed a total of 609 career wins. 

Scouting Montana (1-4)
The Grizzlies opened their season at the GCU Kickoff Classic in Phoenix, Ariz., and went 1-4 on the weekend. Their lone win came over Colgate and they took two losses to Grand Canyon and one apiece to Northern Illinois and Wichita State. Montana hit .279 as a team and racked up 36 hits. The Griz pitchers compiled an ERA of 6.20.

  • Presley Jantzi led the Grizzly offense, going 8-for-17 with a walk and posting a batting average of .471. She also had the highest slugging percentage on the team at .647. 
  • Sveva Sweeney and Anna Cockhill each notched six hits for Montana. Sweeney had a .375 batting average, while Cockhill’s was .353.
  • Siona Halwani pitched the most innings at the GCU Kickoff Classic with a total of 12.2. She claimed Montana’s only win of the weekend. Halwani allowed 20 hits and walked six batters. 
  • Camryn Ortega had the best ERA for the Grizzlies with a mark of 4.34. She struck out seven batters and walked three across 9.2 innings.
  • Stef Ewing is in her first season as the head coach of Montana. She was hired in June 2024 after serving as head coach at Cal State San Marcos.

Scouting Northern Colorado (1-3)
The Bears opened their season at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and compiled a record of 1-3. They grabbed their win against Louisiana Tech, who would go on to beat then-No. 4 Oklahoma State. Northern Colorado batted .255 to its opponents’ .387 and its pitchers compiled an ERA of 4.36. 

  • Ella Gonzales led the team with a .538 batting average over the course of the weekend. Across 13 at bats, she had seven hits and two runs, including a homer and a double.
  • Amailee Morales went 5-for-12 in the Bears’ four games and hit two homers and a double on a .417 batting average.
  • Sabrina Javorsky had five hits for Northern Colorado and posted the third-highest batting average on the team with a mark of .400. 
  • Isabelle DiNapoli pitched 14.0 innings in two complete games and struck out four batters, but allowed nine earned runs to finish with an ERA of 4.50.
  • Anna Wilming had the best ERA for the Bears with a mark of 3.50 across 10.0 innings. She struck out three batters and walked three.
  • Northern Colorado is led by Dedeann Pendleton-Helm, who joined the team in June of 2022 and has a record of 54-52.