WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — If there was any doubt about Nebraska Softball’s hunger for a Big Ten title, that doubt has been obliterated — emphatically and early.
With grit, flair, and the firepower of a team on a mission, No. 3 seed Nebraska stormed into the Big Ten Tournament semifinals with a thunderous 9-1 run-rule victory over No. 11 seed Penn State on Thursday. And they did it in just five innings, leaving fans and foes alike with jaws on the floor and eyes fixed on what might be a championship-bound juggernaut.
At the heart of it all? Jordy Bahl. Again.
The Husker phenom not only dominated from the circle — racking up nine strikeouts — but she also crossed the plate for the winning run, proving yet again that she’s not just Nebraska’s ace, but its heartbeat.
Penn State tried to rattle the Huskers early, eking out a shaky first-inning run after a rare misstep from Bahl — a hit-by-pitch and wild pitch combination led to a score. But that lone run? It was all the Nittany Lions would get. From that moment on, Bahl and the Nebraska defense slammed the door shut.
After walking the leadoff batter in the second, Bahl struck out the side, igniting a streak of 12 straight Nittany Lions retired. The pitching was clinical, the fielding was clean, and the mood was unmistakable — Nebraska had no intention of letting up.
Meanwhile, the Huskers’ bats exploded.
After a quiet first two at-bats, Nebraska unleashed a five-run rally in the bottom of the first, with Abbie Squier smashing a triple and Ava Bredwell delivering a sizzling RBI single to kick-start the fireworks. By the end of the inning, the momentum had fully shifted — and it never looked back.
Bredwell, in a jaw-dropping performance, went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, leading the offensive charge in what felt less like a game and more like a declaration: Nebraska is coming.
The offensive onslaught didn’t stop there. The Huskers added two more runs in the second and iced the game with a decisive pair in the fifth — including the walk-off RBI single by Ava Kuszak, whose clutch bat has been a revelation this postseason.
All told, six Huskers tallied hits as Nebraska improved to 39-12 on the year, while Penn State’s season ends at 25-27.
Now, the spotlight sharpens.
Up next? A seismic semifinal clash with No. 2 seed UCLA, a powerhouse that narrowly escaped with a 5-4 walk-off win over Indiana. That game is set for 4 p.m. CDT Friday, and it promises to be nothing short of epic.
With Jordy Bahl firing on all cylinders and the Husker lineup turning into a scoring machine, Nebraska is no longer just a contender — they’re the team no one wants to face.
Can the Big Red keep the dream alive and march into the title game? All signs say yes — but as Friday looms, so does the storm.
