No. 20 Nebraska powers past Ohio State

No. 20 Nebraska opened Big Ten play with a bang. The Cornhuskers took down Ohio State, 9-5, in the series opener in Columbus.

Lorin Boutte started well the first time through the order. However, Nebraska clearly made adjustments against the talented Buckeye freshman arm. Boutte’s counterpart Jordy Bahl smashed her 10th homer of the season in the third inning. It wouldn’t be the last blast.

After Ohio State retook the lead, Hannah Camenzind hit a two-run homer to tie the game. Ava Bredwell gave Nebraska the lead two batters later with a solo shot. The Cornhuskers never looked back.

Camenzind finished the day 3-for-4 with four RBIs. She had a two-RBI double in the fifth inning. This is the type of performance Nebraska needs from a hitter not named Bahl or Ava Kuszak. Her sister, Lauren, also had a two-RBI double later in the contest.

Ohio State manufactured a run in the first. The Buckeyes’ stars came through in the third against Bahl. Kami Kortokrax and Jasmyn Burns each drove in a run. However, Bahl settled in after that. She retired the next five batters she faced against the high-power Ohio State lineup.

Despite being down six entering the seventh, the Buckeyes didn’t go down without a fight. A single and a pair of walks loaded the bases without an out for the heart of the order, but Bahl limited the damage.

Bahl went the distance, allowing three earned runs on six hits. She struck out 12 batters with nine of those Ks coming in the fourth inning or later.

The two teams will square off again at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday. That contest is the last game that counts toward Big Ten standings as Sunday’s game will be a non-conference matchup. Regardless, a sweep would be massive for Nebraska’s hopes to potentially host a regional.

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