The No. 3 Nebraska softball team secured an outright Big Ten regular-season championship with a 10-4 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in University Park, Pa., on Saturday afternoon.
The Big Ten title is the Huskers’ first outright Big Ten regular-season title, as its 2014 regular-season championship was shared with Michigan. It marks NU’s 11th regular-season title and 21st overall conference title. The Big Red now sits at 42-6 on the season with a 22-1 mark in Big Ten play.
Kacie Hoffmann and Lauren Camenzind paced the Husker offense, which came alive with six runs in the sixth inning, as Hoffmann had two hits and two RBI and L. Camenzind had two RBI and scored three runs. Hannah Coor added two RBI on one hit and Jesse Farrell and Nessa McMillen contributed a double apiece.
Alexis Jensen (20-2) grabbed the win in the circle after throwing five innings with seven hits and four runs, along with seven strikeouts. Jordy Frahm earned her 10th save of the season, as she threw the last two innings and allowed only one hit while striking out three.
In the top of the third, L. Camenzind walked and went to second and third on an error and another walk, before crossing the plate on a wild pitch to give NU a 1-0 lead. Penn State knocked a two-run shot to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third. PSU added another run in each of the fourth and fifth innings to extend the advantage to 4-1.
The Huskers posted a six-run sixth inning to take a 7-4 lead into the final inning of the day. Kuszak singled and went to third on an error that also put Emmerson Cope on base. Nessa McMillen pinch ran for Cope, and Bland reached on a fielder’s choice that loaded the bases. Hoffmann singled to score Kuszak and McMillen, and Bland scored on a Frahm single to right field. Coor doubled to send L. Camenzind and Kennadi Williams, who pinch ran for Hoffmann, across the plate before a H. Camenzind sacrifice fly scored Frahm.
Farrell hit a leadoff double in the top of the seventh and scored on a McMillen double, the first hit of her career. L. Camenzind hit a two-run bomb to extend the lead to 10-4. The final game between Nebraska and Penn State is set for tomorrow, May 3, at 11 a.m. (CT)
