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Nebraska softball battles for series win vs. Washington, first UW win since 2014

Abby Barmore HuskerOnlineby:Abby Barmore•about 16 hours•

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Nebraska softball Jordy Bahl
Nebraska softball Jordy Bahl (Photo by Nebraska Communications)

No. 18 Nebraska softball (35-12, 15-5) win their first Big Ten series vs. Washington (32-15, 10-8) in Seattle, Wash. The Huskers claimed their first win vs. UW since 2014.

On Friday evening, the Huskers won 12-8. They were close to ending the game in a run-rule, but Washington rallied both times. Right-handed pitcher Jordy Bahl gave up five runs, five hits, and walked two batters. She struck out 12 in 5 1/3 innings.

Washington won game two 10-2 in five innings on Saturday. UW scored six runs off two hits and one error in the first inning. Bahl (walked with bases loaded) and Hannah Camenzind (solo homer) added RBI.

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On Sunday, Bahl was outstanding in the circle and at the plate. She recorded four of Nebraska’s five RBI with two home runs. A five-run fourth inning boosted NU to a big lead to help them win 6-0 and claim the series.

Here are three takes from the big-time series victory:

Husker bullpen, even Bahl at times, struggles

Nebraska’s bullpen had seemed to be improving. But they struggled on in Washington. Even Bahl had a few blips in Seattle.

Bahl started on Friday and Sunday. She threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings but gave up five hits and five runs in her final two outs on Friday. On Sunday, the righty gave up one hit and walked four in seven innings. The redshirt junior recorded 12 strikeouts in game one and 10 in game three. Overall, Bahl is outstanding but she is human.

Hannah Camenzind took over for Bahl in game one and threw 1 2/3 innings and 49 pitches. She allowed four hits and three runs while striking out two.

Kylee Magee got the nod on Saturday. She allowed five runs off two hits and an error in the first 1 1/3 innings and was pulled. Emmerson Cope finished the game but also struggled. Cope pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and five runs. The duo struck out two batters in four innings.

Nebraska feels great about their chances with Bahl in the circle. Magee had been improving but she faced a red-hot Washington offense on Saturday. If the Huskers want to make a run in the Big Ten Championship, which starts on May 7, they need their entire pitching staff to step up to the challenge.

Ava Kuszak, Jordy Bahl rising in home run record book

Shortstop Ava Kuszak has a chance to claim Nebraska’s single-season home run record. Bahl is also rising up the record book and is one home run away from tying Kuszak.

The Huskers hit five home runs on Friday and seven in the series. Kuszak led Nebraska with two home runs in game one. She hit a 2-RBI homer and a 3-RBI home run in game one. Bahl hit two homers, a 3-RBI shot and a solo homer, on Sunday.

Kuszak has 18 home runs in 2025, which is tied for the fourth most in a single season in Nebraska softball history. She is tied with Taylor Edwards (2011 and 2014) and Billie Andrews (2024).

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Bahl has 17 home runs in 2025, which ties her for seventh with Christie McCoy (1998).

Billie Andrews ranks third in history with 20 single-season homers. Ali Viola (1998) leads Nebraska with 22 homers and MJ Knighten is second with 21 homers in 2016.

Nebraska has a program-record 93 home runs this season.

Slam the door shut

Nebraska softball was one strike away from run-ruling Washington on Friday. Jade Bubke hit a 2-RBI home run with two outs and a full count in the bottom of the fifth to fight off a looming Husker run rule.

Kuszak hit a 3-RBI homer in the top of the sixth to put the run-rule back into play. But the Huskies score three runs in the sixth and then three more in the seventh.

UW lost 12-8 on Friday but carried their momentum onto Saturday. The Huskies scored six runs in the first inning off of two hits and one error. Jadyn Glab hit a 2-RBI homer and Alexis DeBoer added a solo shot.

The Huskers bounced back on Sunday with the help of Bahl, who threw a great game and two home runs for four RBI. A five-run fourth inning set the Nebraska softball up for the series win.

With the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments looming the Huskers will need to close out games strong. Next up, the Huskers host Maryland on May 2-4 for its final regular season home games of the season.

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