HUSKERS SOFTBALL Recap – The Weekend Belongs To Us: #6 NEBRASKA 8 – #7 UCLA 4

The #6 Nebraska Cornhuskers had been making big innings a huge part of big wins in multiple games this season. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, they finally strapped one on UCLA and that was enough to give them a 2-1 series win in the biggest games they play until the Big 10 tourney rolls around. Husker rips had been finding their way into enemy gloves repeatedly in East Lansing and these strokes of bad luck had continued at home against the Bruins in the first games – or maybe you forgot lined shots to right field and shortstop with the bases loaded and one out in the 7th on Saturday night?

Or two more in the bottom of the first in this game with Hannah Camenzind in scoring position? The breaks started immediately in the bottom of two when Jesse Farrell dropped a pop into left field right between the left fielder and shortstop who stared at each other momentarily before both took up the chase unsuccessfully – and to be honest, it probably didn’t matter. Two batters later, starting pitcher Alexis Jensen broke open the 1-1 game with an absolute rocket which cleared the center field wall, the hill behind it and may well have found the parking lot after it landed 283 feet away (distance to CF fence 225 feet).

The 2-run blast put the Huskers up 3-1. Then with Jordy Frahm and Hannah Coor aboard, Hannah Cam launched one, also to center field, which just cleared the wall for a 6-1 advantage. Then it was wait out a second UCLA pitching change, send up Ava Kuszak and watch her also belt one out for a 7-1 lead.

Bonus points if you guessed it sailed out to center as well. There was some unease after Jensen surrendered an infield single followed by 2-run homer by UCLA leadoff batter Rylee Slimp to cut the margin to 8-4. However, tensions were eased as Jordy Frahm came on halt any further UCLA scoring.