Big Ten Softball Scores and Standings (2/6)

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Florida International 4, Indiana 3
#14 Nebraska 7, #6 Tennessee 1
#12 Arizona 15, Michigan State 0
#12 Arizona 10, Michigan State 9
Arizona State 7, Maryland 1
#9 Texas A&M 10, Purdue 2

Standings
Nebraska (1-0)
Illinois (0-0)
Cockeye (0-0)
Michigan (0-0)
Minnesota (0-0)
Northwestern (0-0)
Ohio State (0-0)
Oregon (0-0)
Penn State (0-0)
Rutgers (0-0)
UCLA (0-0)
USC (0-0)
Washington (0-0)
Wisconsin (0-0)
Indiana (0-1)
Maryland (0-1)
Purdue (0-1)
Michigan State (0-2)

Next Nebraska Game - Friday, February 7
Nebraska vs. Southern Mississippi (at Clearwater, FL) (3:00 PM)
Nebraska vs. Bethune-Cookman (at Clearwater, FL) (6:00 PM)

 

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No. 19 Huskers Upset No. 6 Volunteers in Season Opener
Huskers.com

The No. 19 Nebraska softball team scored five two-out runs in the fifth inning en route to a 7-1 victory over the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers on Thursday night at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla.

Jordyn Bahl made her return for the Huskers and collected the win in the circle. The Papillion, Neb., native tossed a complete-game five-hitter and allowed only one run. Bahl (1-0) also totaled seven strikeouts and did not walk a batter. She won a battle of first-team All-Americans as Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens (0-1) took the loss.

Offensively, NU got a runner on base in six of its seven innings and enjoyed six hits, three of which came from Samantha Bland, who had a double and two RBIs in addition to going 3-for-3. Bahl notched the first home run of her career - a two-run shot - to cap Nebraska's five-run fifth inning.

Tennessee opened up the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning when a Sophia Nungent hit a two-out bloop double that scored Zoie Shuler, giving the Vols a 1-0 edge.

Nebraska answered back in the top of the fifth. After the first two hitters were retired, Abbie Squier singled before Lauren Camenzind reached on a Tennessee error. With runners on first and third, Bland reached on an infield singled and another Vols error allowed Camenzind, Squier and Bland to all score and give the Huskers a 3-1 lead. The Big Red continued its offensive assault as Ava Kuszak got on base with a line drive to right field before Bahl hit her first career home run to push the lead 5-1.

Both teams went scoreless in the sixth and Nebraska maintained its 5-1 advantage going into the final inning of the night.

Lauren Camenzind walked to kick off the top of the seventh, and Bland notched her third hit of the night, a double to center field, to score Camenzind. Bland went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Kuszak sacrifice fly to make the score 7-1.

Tennessee put two runners on base with one out in the bottom of the seventh but the Huskers ended the upset when Kuszak, Camenzind and Bella Bacon combined for a double play to end the game.

The Huskers will continue NFCA Leadoff Classic action tomorrow, Feb. 7 with a matchup against Bethune-Cookman at 3 p.m. (CT) and one against Southern Miss at 6 p.m. (CT). Both games are free to watch on GameChanger and can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network.

 

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Postgame Notes

- Nebraska's win over No. 6 Tennessee marked the Huskers first Top 10 win since 2018, when it beat No. 6 Texas A&M

- Jordyn Bahl made her return to the circle for the Huskers, while Abbie Squier made her return to the outfield. Bahl was injured in the first game of the 2024 season while Squier missed the entire 2024 campaign

- Bahl pitched all seven innings for Nebraska, marking the 27th complete game of her career

- Bahl's home run in the top of the fifth inning ot make the NU lead 5-1 was the first of her career

- Samantha Bland posted three hits for the 13th multi-hit game of her career

- Ava Kuszak (shortstop), Olivia DiNardo (designated player), Lauren Camenzind (second base) and Nessa McMillen (center field) all made their first starts for Nebraska

- Ava Bredwell started her 157th game for NU, which is the most on the team