Huskers Earn Extra-Inning, Walk-Off Victory

Bella Bacon had a walk-off RBI in the bottom of the ninth inning to help the No. 20 Nebraska softball team grab a 5-4, extra-inning victory over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Sunday night at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln. The Huskers drew a crowd of 2,384 for their two games on Sunday, which is the fifth-highest in program history.

The game was a battle until the end, as there were four lead changes and two ties over the course of the nine innings. The Huskers (19-6) had eight hits to five for South Dakota State (9-13). The Jackrabbits had only three hits in the first seven innings, but two were home runs.

Ava Kuszak was 3-for-5 on the night to lead the Big Red at the plate, and Abbie Squier knocked the Huskers’ lone home run - a game-tying shot in the bottom of the eighth - while Olivia DiNardo added two RBIs. 

Jordyn Bahl (10-3) pitched a career-high 9.0 innings, struck out seven batters and allowed three earned runs en route to the win in the circle. Amanda Vacanti (1-4) also pitched a complete game and took the loss for the Jackrabbits. 

South Dakota State knocked a two-run homer in the top of the first to grab a 2-0 lead. 

A Jackrabbit error helped the Huskers to kick off the bottom of the fifth. Kuszak reached first on the error, Bahl singled and Samantha Bland walked to load the bases with one out. DiNardo hit a single to score Bahl and Kuszak and tie the score at 2-2 going into the sixth.

The Big Red grabbed the lead in the bottom of the sixth, as Squier walked to get to first and Kuszak singled to center field to advance Squier to third. A Bahl sacrifice fly sent Squier home and gave Nebraska a 3-2 advantage.

A South Dakota State two-out solo home run tied the score back at 3-3 going into the bottom of the seventh.

The Jackrabbits took a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth on a Husker error, but Squier tied it at 4-4 on a solo homer in the bottom of the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Hannah Camenzind reached base on a fielder’s choice and Lauren Camenzind reached on an error, which also advanced H. Camenzind to third. Bacon hit a walk-off RBI fielder's choice to score H. Camenzind and clinch the 5-4, nine-inning win.

NU will open Big Ten play at Ohio State from March 14-16. Friday’s game will start at 5 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on B1G+. The game can also be heard across the Huskers Radio Network. The matchups on Friday and Saturday will count toward conference standings, while Sunday’s will not.

Postgame Notes

• Jordyn Bahl pitched a career-high 9.0 innings.
• NU is now 19-0 when it hits a home run. 
• Abbie Squier has homered in three straight games for the Big Red.
• Nebraska is 2-1 in extra-inning games in 2025. Both of those wins have come against South Dakota State.