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Nebraska softball defeats GCU to take Lincoln Regional, will host first Super in program history

by: Bobby Schneider8 hours agobschneider33

LINCOLN — No. 1 Nebraska softball (49-6) took the Lincoln Regional by taking down GCU (54-10), 1-0, in front of 3,200 fans in red on Sunday at Rhonda Revelle Field.

For the first time in program history, the Huskers will now host a Super Regional.

“We got our wish,” head coach Rhonda Revelle said. “It was really the players that set the tone with that last year. It’s a player-led team, just really proud that they’re getting to be able to experience that.”

Over the regional, NU also defeated USD 4-1 on Friday and GCU 2-0 on Saturday, finishing 3-0.

Hannah Camenzind went yard in the first and finished 1-for-2 at the plate to bat in Nebraska’s lone run.

Starter Alexis Jensen (24-2) delivered excellence from the circle. The true freshman lefty posted five shutout innings off 81 pitches (53 strikes) to strike out seven Lopes to just one hit surrendered.

Senior superstar Jordy Frahm (SV: 12) recorded the final six outs without a hit allowed and built off her 16 strikeouts on Saturday with another five in the finale.

Here is an instant recap from the Big Red regional win…

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Jensen shoves, Frahm seals it

After working two quick innings, Jensen ran into traffic in the third. An issued lead-off walk and a fielding error on Frahm put Lopes on first and second with none down.

Despite the GCU threat, Jensen managed to escape unscathed and capped off the frame with her third strikeout of the game.

“The fact that she got us out of that without any damage… I say this, it was a big-girl moment,” the NU head coach said.

That dominant control from the circle carried to the fourth and fifth as she worked back-to-back 1-2-3 frames to cap off her five shutout IP. During that stint, she sandwiched together three consecutive strikeouts to finish with seven total.

Jensen retired 16-of-18 to snag her 24th win of the season.

Frahm followed with two shutout innings to notch her 12th save of the season. GCU had significant fits against the Papillion (Neb.) native as she struck out a whopping 21 Lopes over the two games.

Camenzind provides Nebraska’s only offensive spark

Other than a homer in the first, Nebraska’s offense was quiet with just five hits.

Hannah Camenzind launched a two-out solo-shot to right field to lead 1-0. The Valley (Neb.) native’s homer marked the first Big Red blast of the weekend, along with the first time it scored before the fifth inning.

While the first-inning bomb appeared to create an offensive hayday early, the Huskers stranded three runners (two in scoring position) over the next three frames.

After stranding Samantha Bland 60 feet from home in the second and a 1-2-3 third, Nebraska missed another opportunity by leaving two on in the fourth.

The offensive struggles carried to the fifth. After getting retired 1-2-3 for the second time, NU couldn’t cash in Hannah Coor’s lead-off single in the sixth.

Nebraska returns to Bowlin Stadium next Thursday at 8 p.m. CT to host a Super Regional against Oklahoma State (41-15). Watch on ESPN2 or listen on the Huskers Radio Network.

Outstanding pitching showcases CWS potential

Between Jensen and Frahm, Nebraska surrendered just one run this weekend. Revelle said that the stat itself is the difference between last year’s team, which lost in the Tennessee Super Regional, and this year’s Super host.

“We lost one-run ball games last year at the end,” Revelle said. “I’m viewing it as a really big victory to win the one-run ball games because honestly, the first day of fall ball… whatever… the end of August, that’s what we were talking about, ‘how to get on the right side of a one-run ball game.’

“I don’t care, it could be 12-11, but I’ll take 1-0, too, because that’s pretty clean.”

Frahm, the Big Red’s team captain, said the home-field advantage will play a pivotal role in the Super Regional.

“To do that at home in Lincoln is something that we’ve never done,” the Big Ten pitcher of the year said. “Everybody’s just so excited to wrap up a high-emotion weekend like this and to wake up in our own beds tomorrow morning… and have a whole week at home, and not have to get ready to travel.

“All we have to do is prepare. So, it’s huge. We’re excited. Bowlin was incredible this weekend, such a fun atmosphere to play in. We’re just thankful for our fans for that, and thankful to do it another weekend.”

Frahm added, “Not many people get to actually live this dream, but it’s a dream so many have, and we’re just grateful that we get to.”

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