Nebraska softball post 3 run rules, 4 wins in Big Red Spring Fling
Nebraska softball (19-6) dominated in the Big Red Spring Fling at Bowlin Stadium. The Huskers gave the hometown crowd lots to cheer about in its first four home games.
They crushed Northern Iowa 14-1 in five innings on Saturday, March 8. NU run ruled Northern Colorado 12-4 in six innings in the second game of the doubleheader. On Sunday, they mercy-ruled UNI again, winning 9-1 in five innings. Nebraska ended the weekend with a 5-4 win over South Dakota State in nine innings.
Nebraska defeated Northern Colorado 10-0 in five innings in the Troy Cox classic in Las Cruces, N.M. on Feb. 15. The Huskers are also 2-0 against SDSU this season and has defeated them twice in extra innings. They scored three runs in the eighth inning to beat the Jackrabbits 8-5 in the Wichita State Tournament.
Nebraska has posted 14 run-rule victories in 2025. Only five of their wins have not been a mercy rule.
Here are three takeaways from the Huskers’ first home games.
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Hannah Camenzind showing promise but other pitchers need to step up
Nebraska softball is still working to solidify its pitching lineup behind Jordy Bahl. However, Hannah Camenzind has earned the No. 2 position but still has improvements.
The Huskers had hoped Kylee Magee would heal quickly from wrist surgery. However, the Arizona State transfer continues to struggle in the circle. She started against Northern Colorado and lasted two innings. She allowed three runs, three hits, one walk and hit one batter.
Nebraska transfer Allie Sczech convinced path destined to merge with Dani Busboom Kelly’s
Camenzind took over with the bases loaded and gave up two hits and one run. Against the Bears, the junior gave up three hits and one run and struck out two batters. She started against Northern Iowa on Sunday and pitched a complete five-inning game. The Valley, Neb. native allowed five hits, one run and struck out five batters to improve her record to 3-2 in 2025.
Camenzind had a great weekend at the plate as well. She recorded six RBI and hit four doubles. ????
The Huskers have to rely more on Bahl than they are comfortable with. Bahl has pitched half (82 and 2/3 innings) of Nebraska’s 151 1/3 innings in 2025. She threw nearly 200 pitches during the Wichita State Tournament.
She started against UNI, pitched three innings,, and closed out the Northern Colorado game. The two-time first-team All-American started and pitched nine innings against SDSU. Bahl gave up a 2-run home run in the top of the first and a solo homer in the top of the seventh.
Bahl recorded nine RBI and two home runs in her first weekend in Bowlin.
Defense needs to improve
Nebraska softball is focused on improving its defense, and rightfully so. The Huskers have committed 31 errors over 25 games. They committed 43 errors in 2024.
Shortstop Ava Kuszak leads the team with seven errors. She had three errors in the Big Red Spring Fling. But she also paces Nebraska with a nation-leading 12 home runs and 31 RBI.
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Third baseman Sammie Bland has committed five errors. First baseman Bella Bacon has six errors, including one vs. SDSU. Bland recorded a throwing error in the top of the ninth but luckily, Bahl ended the inning quickly with a strike out.
Lauren Camenzind had a costly error in the top of the eighth inning vs. SDSU. She bobbled a ground ball and failed to get the runner out at second and allowed the Jackrabbits to take a 4-3 lead.
Errors are bound to happen. However, too many of Nebraska’s have been on routine plays. The Huskers need to sure up their infield defense.
A special homecoming for Jordy Bahl, other Nebraska natives
Bahl played her first official game in Bowlin Stadium on Saturday. The Papillion, Neb. native struck out her first batter and hit a home run during her first at bat. It doesn’t get better than that.
“Driving to the field this morning it did cross my mind that it’s probably the first time since high school that I would get the opportunity to play a live, in-season game in Nebraska,” Bahl said on Saturday.
“But once the game started I wasn’t really thinking about that. It was just task at hand. I’m thinking about all my teammates. At the plate, passing the bat to them and on the mound, feeding the defense.”
Bahl wasn’t the only homegrown Husker to play her first game in Bowlin as a Husker. Arkansas transfers Lauren Camenzind, Hannah Camenzind, Kacie Hoffmann and freshmen Kennadi Williams and Nessa McMillen were able to represent their home state in the Scarlet and Cream.
Lauren Camenzind hit her first home run of the season in her second game in Bowlin. Hoffmann recorded three hits and two RBI. Williams’ speed makes her Nebraska’s favorite pinch runner. McMillen was a pinch runner against SDSU.
