Courtesy of Husker Athletics
Ava Kuszak hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to clinch a 9-1, six-inning win for the No. 20 Nebraska softball team over the Maryland Terrapins on Sunday afternoon at Bowlin Stadium.
NU drew a crowd of 2,628 on Sunday to put the total weekend attendance at 7,929, making this weekend’s series the highest-attended three-game series in Husker softball history. The Big Red moved to 38-12 (17-5 Big Ten) on the season, while Maryland fell to 18-31 (3-19 Big Ten).
Kuszak and Jordyn Bahl both hit home runs in the game, and Bahl’s put the Huskers over 400 runs for the season, which is a new school record. Kuzsak added three RBIs and Bella Bacon contributed three hits. As a team, NU outhit the Terrapins 10-3.
Bahl (22-5) grabbed the win in the circle after tossing 4.0 scoreless and hitless innings. She struck out seven batters in the process. Kylee Magee pitched the final 2.0 innings for the Big Red and allowed one run. Bri Godfrey (6-8) took the loss for UMD.
The Huskers saw a four-run first inning, sparked by a leadoff home run by Bahl. Samantha Bland walked and scored on a Kuszak double. An Olivia DiNardo fly out sent Kuszak to third, and she scored on an Abbie Squier sacrifice bunt. The sac bunt also advanced H. Camenzind to third, who had walked earlier in the inning. A Bacon single scored H. Camenzind and made the score 4-0 after the first.
H. Camenzind started the bottom of the second with a single and scored on a Bland double. DiNardo doubled to score Kuszak and extend the lead to 6-0.
In the bottom of the third, Bacon doubled to left field and scored on a Bredwell single. NU led 7-0 going into the fourth.
Maryland got on the board in the top of the fifth on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the sixth, Bland walked and Kuszak knocked a two-run homer to lock up the 9-1, run-rule win.
With today’s win, NU earned a bye in the Big Ten Tournament and will play on Thursday, May 8. For opponent, timing and streaming information, stay updated with huskers.com and @HuskerSoftball on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Postgame Notes
- The Huskers are now at 409 runs on the season, which is the highest total in program history. The previous record was 400 runs in 2015.
- Nebraska’s total weekend attendance was 7,929, which is the highest total attendance for a three-game series in program history.
- NU has now scored 4+ runs in an inning 38 times this season.
- Today marked the Huskers’ 22nd run-rule win of the season, which is the most in program history.
- Jordyn Bahl has allowed no earned runs and only two hits in her last 18.0 innings pitched.
