The Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic is typically one of the toughest non-conference invitationals in the country.
And had their first two weekends not been so loaded, games against the #11 and #13 ranked teams in a slate of five might have seemed a little stronger. But, regardless of that, the Huskers are on the cusp of accomplishing what few do – going undefeated at a weekend in Palm Springs where the tourney takes place.
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I never like to take anything for granted, but their next opponent, California, is, at the time of this writing, making their way over from one of the side fields after losing to Auburn 19-5.
Ouch.
As for Nebraska, they dispatched Seattle University 9-0 in much the same fashion they won their first three games by the scores of 9-1, 13-0 and 8-2 – stellar pitching and big innings at the plate.
A 2-run 1st inning, a 4-run 3rd and a 3-run top of the 6th slowly dismantled the Redhawks’ staff as all five pitchers were used. The Huskers went with Hannah Camenzind for her second start of the weekend and she responded with 5 more shutout innings, after Friday’s no-hitter, giving her 10 scoreless so far this weekend and lowering her ERA to a team-best 1.15. She scattered 4 hits while striking out 4 with no walks.
Jordy Frahm, playing 1st base, did the most damage at the plate going 2-for-3 and launching the 3-run bomb over the right center field fence which gave the Huskers the margin to end things an inning early. Also with multiple hits was freshman Carlie Muhlbach who went 2-for-2 with a couple of RBI singles of her own and just keeps making me look smarter and smarter. She is hitting .444 with an OBP of .615. (Patting self on back. And, yes, I’ll shuttup about it. For now. Don’t judge me.)
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Ava Kuszak continued bouncing back with another hit and a couple of runs – per Coach Rhonda Revelle, hitting coach Diane Miller fixed a hitch in her swing prior to this weekend and the results are showing. Six of the nine starters got a hit today as the team batting average continues to rise.
The weekend concludes against California scheduled now for 1:45.
