Kenny Larabee, NRG Media
With a thunderous seven-run top of the fifth inning, the No. 1 Nebraska softball clinched its eighth all-time trip to the Women’s College World Series with a 9-1, mercy rule win over No. 15 Oklahoma State to sweep the NCAA Super Regional. The Cornhuskers (51-6) are going to Oklahoma City for the first time in 13 years and the fourth time under Rhonda Revelle, who became the third coach in college softball history to guide a team to the WCWS in four different decades (joining Lu Harris-Champer and Mike Candrea).
A command performance by Hannah Coor led the way. A backup player on three Oklahoma WCWS teams, Coor drove Nebraska to Oklahoma City with a 3-for-3 day at the plate with a double, a home run, two RBI, and a spectacular diving catch in center field with one out in the fourth. Lexi McDonald lined a ball to the right of straightaway center. Coor raced in and to her right, dove and caught the ball off the ground.
McDonald had given the Cowgirls (41-17) a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as she lined a single to left to drive in a run. The Huskers answered in the top of the third. Jordy Frahm led off the inning with a walk. Coor then ripped a double to the gap in left-center field. As Frahm scored, Coor moved up to third base. Hannah Camenzind followed with a sacrifice fly to the wall in right field to score Coor and give Nebraska 2-1 lead.
The floodgates opened for the Huskers in the top of the fifth. With one out, Coor crushed a home run to left field. With two outs, Ava Kuszak singled up the middle. Jesse Farrell followed with a walk. Samantha Bland singled off the glove of the third baseman Rosie Davis to load the bases. That ended the day of senior All-American pitcher Ruby Meylan. Rylee Crandall came out of the bullpen an immediately hit Kacie Hoffmann to score Kuszak. Senior tri-captain Alina Felix came off the bench as a pinch hitter and ripped a two-run single through the right side. Lauren Camenzind followed with a three-run home run to left to punctuate the rally.
Alexis Jensen (25-2) threw four shutout innings to earn the win, allowing two hits while striking out seven. Frahm came out of the bullpen and allowed a hit while striking out two.
Winner of 26 in a row, the Huskers now head to the Women’s College World Series, where they will face first-time WCWS participant Arkansas in the first round Thursday. First pitch time is TBD, but the game will be broadcast on B-107.3.