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Nebraska softball wins game one 5-2 vs. No. 7 Tennessee in Knoxville Super Regional

Abby Barmore HuskerOnlineby:Abby Barmore•05/23/25•

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Nebraska softball Olivia DiNardo (1)
Nebraska softball Olivia DiNardo (Photo by Nebraska softball social media)

Nebraska softball (43-13, 17-5 Big Ten) dominated No. 7 Tennessee 5-2 to win game one of the Knoxville Super Regional. Pitcher Jordy Bahl led Nebraska with one hit and two runs. She pitched a complete game and allowed seven hits and two runs. She struck out six and had one wild pitch.

The Lady Vols (43-15, 15-9 SEC) committed two errors in the fourth inning and gave up three runs. Nebraska took a 5-1 lead and retired SEC Pitcher of the Year, Karlyn Pickens, in the fourth.

Pickens gave up four hits, five runs and had seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. She walked two batters and hit one with a pitch. She committed a throwing error in the fourth to give up a run.

Nebraska and Tennessee battle again in the best-of-three series on Saturday, May 24 at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN.

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Huskers strike first and force errors

Bahl and the Huskers struck fast and early. She hit a lead-off single on her first pitch vs. Pickens. The redshirt junior stole second. Olivia DiNardo crushed a single past the shortstop for Bahl to score and for NU to go up 1-0 in the top of the first.

Catcher Sophie Nugent hit a home run to start the bottom of the second and tie the game 1-1. She had hit six home runs in her last seven at-bats. Emma Clarke crushed a double to left field but was left on base.

Bahl was walked in the top of the third. Sammie Bland sent a double to right field for Bahl to score from first base. Pickens struck out Ava Kuszak and DiNardo to leave Bland on second. The Huskers went up 2-1.

All hell broke loose in the fourth inning. Hannah Camenzind hit a lead-off home run. Bahl cracked a routine pop fly to shortstop, but the left fielder dropped the ball. Bella Bacon got home and Lauren Camenzind scored after Pickens overthrew the catcher at home. The Huskers took a 5-1 lead after scoring three in the fourth.

Tennessee pulled Pickens after giving up four hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings. She struck out seven and hit one batter and walked two. Sage Mardjetko took over, but UT continued to struggle. She hit a batter with a pitch and then walked a batter in the fourth. But she settled in and didn’t allow a hit or run in 3 1/13 innings.

The Lady Vols added back-to-back singles in the bottom of the fifth. Bahl struck out Fiedler. But a wild pitch helped Veach score from third base. Bahl made a close play at home to try to tag her out, but didn’t get the call. Nebraska challenged the play at home, but it was upheld.

Bahl wins game one in highly anticipated pitcher match-up

Bahl and Nebraska got the edge over Pickens in game one.

The Huskers retired Pickens in the fourth inning after she allowed a home run, a hit by a pitch, a walk and had a throwing error to the catcher that gave up a run in the fourth inning.

Pickens has now given up six home runs in 190 innings. She had a nation-leading 0.90 ERA before facing the Huskers.

The good news for Tennessee, Pickens only threw 63 pitches on Friday. She will be ready to go on Saturday. A great pitcher like her rarely has back-to-back poor games. But if needed, Mardjetko settled in wonderfully for UT on Friday.

Husker offense breaks through

Nebraska’s offense has struggled in 2025 against great pitches. But they had no problems vs. Pickens.

Bahl started the offense strong with a lead-off single. The Huskers scored in the first, third and had three runs in the fourth. Tennessee committed two errors in the fourth, and NU capitalized.

The Huskers recorded four hits but left five runners on base.

Bland, DiNardo and H. Camenzind had RBI.

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