Nebraska Softball Splits Day, Beats RV-Baylor, Falls to No. 4 UCLA

With Big Ten Co-Player of the Week Ava Kuszak sidelined Thursday with concussion-like symptoms, the No. 16 Nebraska Huskers shuffled their lineup and split their first two games at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif.

Nebraska beat RV-Baylor 4-1 in the first game and dropped the nightcap to No. 4 UCLA 9-1.

Lauren Camenzind moved over to shortstop and into the leadoff spot for both games while freshman Natalia Hill and junior Katelyn Caneda shared second-base responsibilities.

Game One

Nebraska down the Baylor Bears 4-1 to open play in Southern California Thursday afternoon.

Jordy Bahl (4-1) secured the win for Nebraska (9-2), allowing just two hits and striking out nine without surrendering an earned run.

At the plate, Olivia DiNardo led the Huskers’ offense with a 3-for-4 performance, including two doubles. Bella Bacon added a home run, while Hannah Camenzind contributed with two RBI singles.

Bacon, a junior first baseman, opened the scoring in the top of the second inning with her second career home run to give Nebraska an early 1-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, Ava Bredwell singled through the left side, and Kacie Hoffmann reached on an error that advanced Bredwell to third. Hannah Camenzind then delivered an RBI single, bringing Bredwell home to give Nebraska a 2-0 lead.

Bahl was impressive in the fifth inning. With Baylor threatening, loading the bases with no outs, Bahl responded by striking out three straight batters to escape the jam.

In the top of the fifth, Bredwell and Hoffmann drew walks to put runners on first and second. Kennadi Williams entered as a pinch runner for Hoffmann, and Camenzind followed with her second RBI single of the game, scoring Bredwell. Abbie Squier then added a sacrifice fly, bringing Williams home to extend the Huskers’ lead to 4-1.

Baylor added its lone run in the bottom of the seventh.

Postgame Notes | Box Score

Game Two

The nightcap against the No. 4 UCLA Bruins came down to timely hitting and the Huskers didn’t have it.

The matchup initially lived up to the hype as a potential Big Ten Championship matchup and the Huskers treated it that way, opting to start Bahl in the first game rather than this one.

While NU produced three hits against Taylor Tinsley, they couldn’t deliver with runners on base going 0-for-13 with runners on and 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Hannah Camenzind got the start in the circle and kept the Bruins off-balance limiting them to two earned runs on one hit and two walks. She struck out two in 3.1 innings of work.

Kylie Magee came on in relief and struggled with her command. She surrendered four earned runs on three hits, two hit batters, one walk, and a wild pitch.

Cope allowed three earned runs on three hits and one walk in 0.1 an inning.

Samantha Bland drove in the one run for the Huskers in the top of third inning while Bahl, Hoffmann and Hannah Camenzind each had a hit.

Nebraska returns to the field Friday for a 3 p.m. CST game against No. 11 Duke. The game will be streamed on FloSoftball and can be heard for free across the Huskers Radio Network.