Jordy Bahl threw her second straight one-hitter as No. 20 Nebraska dominated Maryland, 6-0, Friday night at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln.
Bahl allowed just one hit, a flare on the infield, while walking five and striking out nine, to lead the Cornhuskers (36-12, 15-5 B1G) to victory. Bahl also paced the offensive effort, hitting 3-for-4 with a home run, her 18th of the year. It was her 35th extra-base hit of the year, tying a school record.
Nebraska took the lead in the bottom of the first. With one out, Samantha Bland and Ava Kuszak both singled. Two batters later, Hannah Camenzind drove them both in with a double to left field. Then in the fourth, Lauren Camenzind led off the inning with a home run off the scoreboard in left to make it 3-0. Bahl followed with a single to left, stole second, then two batters later, scored on an Olivia DiNardo single. In the sixth, Bahl led off the inning with a towering home run down the left-field. Bland followed with a home run to center, her 10th of the year, marking the eighth time this season the Huskers have hit back-to-back home runs.
That was more than enough run support for Bahl, who didn’t allow a ball to leave the infield. She’s thrown back-to-back one-hit shutouts, throwing 14 straight shutout innings. Bahl was supported by Bland, who was 2-for-4 with a homer, and Hannah Camenzind, who was 2-for-3 with a two-run double.
Nebraska remained in a tie for third in the Big Ten standings with Northwestern, which upset No. 8 UCLA in Los Angeles Friday. The top four teams in the Big Ten standings get a first-round bye in the conference tournament next weekend. Ohio State, which entered the day tied for third in the league, split a doubleheader with Illinois and fell to fifth in the Big Ten standings.
The Huskers and Terrapins (18-29, 3-17 B1G) will square off in game two of the series Saturday at 1 p.m. at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln.