Huskers Look to Continue Success at Knoxville Super RegionalHuskers Look to Continue Success at Knoxville Super Regional
Hailey Haar
Softball

Huskers Look to Continue Success at Knoxville Super Regional

The No. 19 Nebraska softball team is set to travel to Knoxville, Tenn., for the Super Regional Round of the 2025 NCAA Softball Tournament. The Huskers will face off against the Tennessee Volunteers in a best-of-three series from May 23-25. Friday’s game is slated to start at 6 p.m. (CT) and Saturday’s matchup is set for 4 p.m. (CT). Sunday’s schedule is to be determined. 

NU is 42-13 on the season and finished with a 17-5 mark in Big Ten conference play, good for a tie with UCLA for second in the regular-season standings. This year marks the Big Red’s 27th NCAA Tournament appearance. NU has made it to the Women’s College World Series seven times and owns a 68-56 record in the NCAA Tournament, including a 2-3 mark in the super regional round.  This weekend will be NU’s third Super Regional appearance and first since 2014, and last weekend’s regional title was the ninth in program history.

The Huskers run-ruled their way through the Baton Rouge Regional last weekend. Nebraska opened NCAA Tournament play with a 10-2, six-inning win over the UConn Huskies and then beat Southeastern Louisiana twice by scores of 14-1 (5 inn.) on Saturday and 8-0 (6 inn.) on Sunday. Over the course of the weekend, NU became the 11th team in NCAA history to record 100+ doubles and home runs in a season, while Jordyn Bahl broke the program record for home runs in a season -- she now has 23. Bahl also became the fifth player in NCAA history to record 20+ wins and home runs in the same season.

Friday’s game will be televised on ESPN2, while Saturday’s contest will be on ESPN. The TV schedule for the rest of the games will be updated on Huskers.com. All of Nebraska’s games will have a free radio broadcast with Nate Rohr on the call. The radio broadcast is available at Huskers.com/listen and on the official Huskers app. 

Leading Off

  • Last weekend, Nebraska became just the 11th team in NCAA history to record 100+ doubles and home runs in a season. NU has 100 doubles and 106 homers.
  • Nebraska has been prone to big innings, scoring four or more runs in an inning 42 times, including 17 innings with six or more runs and seven innings with eight or more runs.
  • Jordyn Bahl now has 41 extra-base hits, 23 home runs, 69 runs and 165 total bases on the season, all of which are school records. She is also the fifth player in NCAA history to record 20+ wins and home runs in the same season.
  • Nebraska now has 106 home runs, 216 extra-base hits and 452 runs scored on the season, all of which are program-record marks.
  • Nebraska is the first team in NCAA history to run-rule its way through a regional as a non-seeded team.
  • Bahl, Ava Kuszak and Olivia DiNardo were members of the NFCA All-Mountain Region first team, while Samantha Bland and Hannah Camenzind were on the second team. Kacie Hoffmann added a third-team accolade.

Bahl’s Campaign for National Player of the Year
Nebraska softball junior Jordyn Bahl has a solid argument to be the National Player of the Year, as her pitching and hitting stats stand out amongst all Division I players. She was named a Top 3 Finalist for the USA Softball Player-of-the-Year Award on May 19. Bahl was recognized as both the Big Ten Player of the Year and the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and is the first player in Big Ten history to earn both awards in the same season.

  • Bahl ranks in the top 10 nationally in numerous categories – hits allowed per seven innings (1st), opponent batting average (1st), slugging percentage (3rd), runs per game (4th), shutouts (4th), strikeouts per seven innings (4th), batting average (5th), extra-base hits (5th), strikeouts (5th), total bases (5th), ERA (6th), victories (6th), home runs (7th), complete games (8th), home runs per game (8th), runs (8th), WHIP (8th) and on-base percentage (9th). 
  • The Papillion, Neb., native boasts a batting average of .475 on the season, which ranks fifth nationally. She has also contributed 69 runs, 76 hits, 66 RBIs, 16 doubles and 23 home runs so far this year. Bahl is the first Husker in school history to record 15 doubles and 15 home runs in the same season. 
  • Bahl owns the single-season extra-base hits (41), home runs (23), runs (69) and total bases (165) records for NU. She is also on pace for numerous other records. If the season ended today, she would rank first in batting average, slugging percentage, fourth in RBIs and seventh in hits. 
  • The junior is trying to become the first player since 2017 to score more runs than she allows (min. 130 IP). Bahl currently has 69 runs scored and 62 runs allowed. 
  • Over the weekend, Bahl became the fifth player in NCAA history to record 20+ wins in the circle and 20+ home runs at the plate in the same season.

Husker Home Run Quick Hitters
The Nebraska softball team has enjoyed a solid season at the plate, most notably with its home run numbers. 

  • Nebraska is fifth in the nation with 106 home runs. NU broke the school record for single-season home runs against Creighton on April 9. The Big Red became the fourth team in Big Ten history to eclipse 100 home runs in a season.
  • A total of 14 Huskers have hit a home run this season, including 13 players with multiple home runs.
  • The Huskers have homered five times in a game on six occasions this season, including three consecutive games to open the Troy Cox Classic.
  • Nebraska has produced 16 innings this season with multiple home runs, including five innings with three or more home runs.
  • Nebraska has hit back-to-back home runs seven times this season, including three times with three consecutive home runs that includes a school-record four straight home runs against San Jose State on Feb. 22.
  • Ava Kuszak (twice), Jordyn Bahl (three times), Samantha Bland, Abbie Squier, Emmerson Cope (twice) and Hannah Camenzind have all had a multi-homer game this season, including three-home run games from Kuszak against Montana on Feb. 16 and Bland at Iowa on April 5, both of which tied the Nebraska and Big Ten records for home runs in a game.
  • Bahl has hit more home runs herself (19) than 113 NCAA Division I teams. Together, Bahl (23) and Kuszak (21) have combined for 44 home runs. The duo is the first in Husker history to record 20+ homers apiece in the same season. Their two-player combined total of 44 home runs would rank 90th among all NCAA Division I teams this spring and would be more than six Big Ten schools have hit as a team.
  • Eleven Huskers – Bahl, Kuszak, Squier, Cope, Bland, Bella Bacon, Alina Felix, Hannah Camenzind, Malia Thoms and Lauren Camenzind – have matched or exceeded their career season highs in home runs.

Bahl Solid at the Plate
Nebraska softball pitcher and utility player Jordyn Bahl has not only had an impact in the circle, but her offense is a force to be reckoned with.

  • Bahl ranks in the top 25 nationally in slugging percentage (3rd), runs per game (4th), batting average (5th), extra-base hits (5th), total bases (5th), home runs (7th), runs (8th), on-base percentage (9th) and RBIs (23rd). 
  • On the season, 41 of Bahl’s 76 hits have gone for extra bases. She averages an extra-base hit every 3.9 at bats.
  • Bahl has nearly as many hits herself as she has allowed as a pitcher. Bahl has 76 hits in 160 at bats at the plate and in the circle, she has allowed only 99 hits in 757 opponent at bats.
  • Bahl has scored more runs herself (69) than she has allowed (62) in 186.1 innings in the circle.

Huskers in the Record Books

  • The 2025 Nebraska softball team is first in school history with 106 home runs, 216 extra-base hits and 452 runs on the season.
  • As it stands, the 2025 squad would rank first in batting average (.356), slugging percentage (.648) and on-base percentage (.438). 
  • NU has notched the most run rule victories in program history with 26 this season.
  • The Big Red scored 10+ runs in five straight games from Feb. 14-16 for the first time in program history.
  • NU notched five home runs in three straight games for what is believed to be the first time in school history.
  • In the Huskers’ game against San Jose State at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, they hit four straight home runs for the first time in program history.
  • Nebraska scored 102 runs in its first 10 games of the season, which marked the quickest the team has hit the 100-run milestone. The Huskers scored 200 runs in their first 23 games of the season, which marked the quickest the team has hit the 200-run milestone.
  • NU scored 300 runs through 37 games, which marked the quickest the team has hit the 300-run milestone. Before this year, the fastest pace was games 43 in 2015.
  • The Big Red hit the 400-run milestone through 49 games, which is the fastest it got to that mark as well.
  • Ava Kuszak and Samantha Bland have both posted three-homer games and are now tiedwith Kaylan Jablonski and Christie McCoy for the school record for home runs in a game. 
  • Jordyn Bahl is first in school history with 41 extra-base hits, 23 home runs, 69 runs and 165 total bases this season.
  • If the season ended today, Bahl would be first in school history in batting average (.475) and Kuszak would be fourth (.429). Bahl would also rank first in slugging percentage (1.031), while Kuszak would rank second (.913).
  • The Huskers set a school record for attendance with 3,021 fans at the May 3 game against Maryland. NU averages 2,306 fans per game, which is fourth nationally and the highest in school history.

Huskers Hit the Portal
Nebraska utilized the transfer portal this offseason, bringing in six new players -- Hannah and Lauren Camenzind and Kacie Hoffmann from Arkansas, Olivia DiNardo from Arizona, Kylee Magee from Arizona State and Ava Kuszak from Wisconsin.

  • Hannah Camenzind was a second-team All-SEC member in 2023. Over her two seasons with the Razorbacks, she posted a 14-3 record with 3.11 ERA over 119.1 total innings. At the plate, she batted .308.
  • Lauren Camenzind was a third-team NFCA All-South Region member in 2023. Over her two seasons at Arkansas, she played in 86 games (79 starts) at both catcher and shortstop.
  • DiNardo racked up numerous accolades during her two years at Arizona. She was a second-team NFCA All-West Region member in 2023 and a Third-Team member in 2024 and was named a Second-Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honoree in 2023. Over the course of two seasons with the Wildcats, DiNardo started 102 games and built up a batting average of .340, along with 15 doubles, 20 home runs and 74 RBIs.
  • Hoffmann played in 106 games with 96 starts during her time with Arkansas. She hit .244 and logged 16 doubles, 15 home runs and 47 RBIs. 
  • Kuszak earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and third-team NFCA All-Great Lakes Region accolades in 2024. During her two seasons at Wisconsin, she played in 76 games with 65 starts and notched 16 doubles, 10 home runs and 33 RBIs on a .278 batting average.
  • Magee was named a member of the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team at Arizona State in 2023. She suffered an injury early in the 2024 season. She pitched in 27 games with 24 starts and compiled a 3.51 ERA and two saves, along with striking out 79 batters in 89.2 innings.

What Nebraska Returned in 2025
Nebraska’s 2025 roster consists of 25 total athletes. Fourteen of those are returners.

Huskers Returning from Injuries
Nebraska faced significant adversity in 2024, as a total of six players suffered season-ending injuries, including four that are returning for the 2025 season. Additionally, Arizona State transfer Kylee Magee had to use the offseason for rehab.

  • Jordyn Bahl suffered a knee injury in the Huskers’ 2024 season opener that required season-ending surgery. Bahl was a First-Team All-American, the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and one of 10 national finalists for player of the year in 2022 and 2023. 
  • Abbie Squier, a returning All-Big Ten and all-region selection, returns after being out for the 2024 season due to surgery. In 2022 and 2023, she was the Big Red’s starting left fielder. 
  • Dakota Carter, the Huskers’ designated player, was deemed out for the 2024 season before it even began. In 2023, she scored 13 runs as a pinch runner and appeared in 39 games. 
  • Caitlin Olensky suffered a season-ending injury in the Huskers’ conference opener against Illinois last year. Before her injury, she compiled a record of 3-2 with a team-best 3.30 ERA.
  • Emmerson Cope was out for almost a month of the 2024 season after battling a back injury. When she was in the lineup, the Topeka, Kan., native amassed an ERA of 4.76 in the circle. She racked up 21 hits, 10 runs, six homers and 19 RBIs. 
  • Talia Tokheim missed the first 23 games of the season while rehabbing an injury from 2023. She returned for nine games before suffering another season-ending injury in game three of the Penn State series. In her limited time on the field, she notched 46 total bases and seven home runs.
  • Kylee Magee suffered a season-ending injury after racking up six appearances with four starts in her sophomore year with the Sun Devils. In her first two years at Arizona State, she struck out 79 batters in 89.2 innings. 

Scouting #7 Tennessee (43-14)
The Volunteers are 43-14 on the season and the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They downed Miami (Ohio), 17-0 in five innings and defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes twice by scores of 4-2 and 5-0 to advance to Super Regionals. The Huskers and Vols met in this year’s season opener in Clearwater, Fla., when NU grabbed a 7-1 victory. Jordynn Bahl pitched a complete game and allowed five hits, and also knocked her first career home run. Nebraska and Tennessee share nine common opponents – the Big Red is 12-7 against them, while the Vols are 12-2.

  • Tennessee’s pitching staff, led by first-team All-American Karlyn Pickens, is ranked first in the country with an ERA of 1.73. The staff is also fourth nationally with 19 shutouts and second nationally with an average of 8.36 strikeouts per seven innings and a WHIP of 0.98. Pickens herself is first in the country with an ERA of 0.90. She is 22-8 this season and has struck out 252 batters.
  • Pickens was the 2025 SEC Pitcher of the Year and was a top 10 finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. This season, she has allowed 112 hits and 24 earned runs across 186.1 innings. 
  • Third baseman Taylor Pannell leads the offense with a .399 batting average, 51 runs, 62 hits and 62 RBIs. She adds 15 home runs, 11 doubles and two triples on a .767 slugging percentage. Pannell was named to the All-SEC First Team for the second season in a row. 
  • Sophia Nugent, the catcher, has logged a team-high 16 home runs, along with 46 hits, 22 runs and 58 RBIs. She averages .307 and has a slugging percentage of .687. 
  • The duo of outfielders Kinsey Fiedler and Saviya Morgan average .354 and .342, respectively. Both have started every game for Tennessee. Fiedler has 58 hits and 36 RBIs, while Morgan owns 52 hits and 14 RBIs. 
  • Shortstop Laura Mealer has played in 56 out of 57 games for the Vols this season and owns a batting average of .318 with 30 runs, 49 hits and 31 RBIs. McKenna Gibson, the first baseman, is .319 with 11 home runs, 38 hits and 41 RBIs.
  • Head coach Karen Weekly is in her 24th season at Tennessee. She has the sixth-most wins at her current school among active coaches, as she is 1,128-354-2 with the Vols. She has also led them to 24 NCAA Tournaments.