Nebraska softball moved to within one win of advancing to the Women’s College World Series with a 5-2 win over No. 7 national seed Tennessee Friday in Knoxville, Tenn.
Jordy Bahl drove the Cornhuskers’ efforts, as she has all season long. She earned the win in the circle, improving to 26-6 on the season after throwing seven innings and allowing two earned runs and seven hits while surrendering no walks and striking out six.
Bahl also sparked the Nebraska offense, leading off the game with a single to left. She stole second, then scored with a single up the middle by Olivia DiNardo. The Lady Vols tied the game in the bottom of the second, when Sophia Nugent homered to center off Bahl. Then in the third, Bahl drew a one-out walk, then scored from first on a Samantha Bland double to right-center, giving NU a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Hannah Camenzind led off the inning with a home run to center field. Bella Bacon was hit by a pitch immediately after. Three batters later, Lauren Camenzind drew a walk. Bahl then popped up a pitch to shallow left field. The Tennessee left fielder, Saviya Morgan raced in and was in position to catch the ball, but dropped it. On the play, two runs scored and Bahl advanced to third, making the score 5-1 Nebraska. The Lady Vols scored a run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth, but drew no closer.
The Huskers are now one win away from advancing to the Women’s College World Series for the eighth time in school history and the fourth time under Rhonda Revelle. Revelle would become just the third coach in NCAA Softball history to guide a team to the Women’s College World Series in four different decades, joining Mike Candrea (Arizona) and Lu Harris-Champer (Southern Miss/Georgia).
Game two of the Super Regional is slated to start at 4 p.m. Pregame coverage begins at 3:45 p.m. on 105.3 The Bone.