Nebraska Natives Power NU Past UNI

A strong effort from several Nebraska natives powered the No. 20 Husker softball team to a 9-1 five-inning victory over Northern Iowa on Sunday at Bowlin Stadium.

Hannah Camenzind, a Valley native, shined in the circle and at the plate for Nebraska (18-6). In the circle, Camenzind (3-2) fired a five-hitter, allowing only one run in her first complete game of the season. At the plate, she was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Lincoln native Abbie Squier and Papillion native Jordyn Bahl each homered for the Huskers, while Elkhorn product Kacie Hoffman went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.

Anna Wischnowski (5-4) took the loss for Northern Iowa, which fell to 11-8 on the season.

UNI grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, converting a leadoff double from Skylar Benesh into a two-out RBI single from Drew Henrichs.

Nebraska tied the game with help from a UNI error in the bottom of the second. Olivia DiNardo led off with a single, and Kennadi Williams came on to pinch run. An error then put Huskers on first and third with no outs, and Williams scored the tying run on an RBI ground out from Hannah Camenzind.

The Huskers then took a 5-1 lead with a four-run third inning. Squier led off the inning with a solo home run to give Nebraska its first lead. Ava Kuszak followed with a single, Bahl walked and Samantha Bland reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. UNI then turned a double play, but both Kuszak and Bahl scored on the play to make it a 4-1 lead. Nebraska tacked on a final run in the inning when Hoffmann tripled and Hannah Camenzind delivered an RBI double.

Nebraska stretched the lead to 9-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Ava Bredwell drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a one-out double from Kuszak. Bahl then launched the first pitch she saw over the wall in center for a three-run homer. Nebraska tacked on another run when Bland reached on an error and scored on an RBI single from Hoffmann.

Camenzind worked around a pair of base runners in the top of the fifth to close out the run-rule victory.

Nebraska plays its final game of the Big Red Spring Fling Sunday evening against South Dakota State.

Post-Game Notes

• Nebraska posted its third straight run-rule win and 14th of the season in 24 games.
• NU scored in three of its four innings against UNI. Through the first three games of the Big Red Spring Fling, the Huskers have scored in 12 of their 14 innings.
• The Huskers hit two home runs in the game. Nebraska is now 18-0 this season when hitting at least one home run.
• Hannah Camenzind tossed her first complete game as a Husker and the fifth of her career.
• Hannah Camenzind also had a career-high two doubles while extending her hitting streak to nine games.
• Abbie Squier homered for the second straight game.
• Jordyn Bahl hit a three-run homer, giving her nine home runs and 22 extra-base hits in her 23 games this season.