Huskers Open Home Season Against Jackrabbits, Mavericks

Photo Credit: NU Athletics

The No. 10 Nebraska softball team will host its first home games of the year at Bowlin Stadium, including a doubleheader against South Dakota State on Thursday, March 5 and games against Omaha on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8. The Huskers are ranked No. 5 in the USA Softball Poll, No. 7 by D1 Softball, No. 9 by Softball America and No. 10 in the NFCA Coaches Poll.
NU is set for a doubleheader against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Thursday, March 5. The first game is set for 4 p.m. (CT) and the second will be played at 6 p.m. (CT). The Big Red will take on Omaha at 2 p.m. (CT) on both Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8. Last season, the Huskers were 14-2 at home. NU is celebrating its 25th year at Bowlin Stadium in 2026.
Last weekend, Nebraska went 3-1 at the Oklahoma State/Tulsa Invitational. NU split a two-game series with the Cowgirls before the third game was canceled due to inclement weather. OSU took the first game, 2-1, in 11 innings before NU struck back with a 4-3 win. The Huskers also posted 8-1 and 9-1 (six innings) wins over South Dakota State and Tulsa, respectively.
All four games this week - and every game this season - 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. Every game this weekend will be streamed on B1G+, which requires a subscription. 
Leading Off
The Huskers are ranked No. 10 in the NFCA Poll. NU is tabbed No. 5 by USA Softball, No. 7 by D1 Softball and No. 9 by Softball America.
Jordy Frahm and Ava Kuszak were both named to the Top 50 Watch List for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
The Huskers now have two wins over top-ranked teams this season -- 8-5 over Texas on Feb. 7 and 3-2 over Texas Tech on Feb. 15.
Nebraska’s team captains for the 2025 season are Jordy Frahm, Ava Kuszak and Alina Felix.
The Huskers won 14 games in the month of February, which ties with the 2011 squad for the most in program history. 
This season, NU has played nine teams that are currently ranked in the top 25 of the NFCA Poll. The Big Red has seven wins over those teams.
Nebraska is 288-122 all-time at Bowlin Stadium, which is good for a .702 winning percentage.
Hannah Camenzind is 4-0 in the circle this year and has not recorded a loss since March 1, 2025. 
Huskers Set for Home Debut
The Nebraska softball team will play its first games of the season at Bowlin Stadium this weekend.
• The Huskers are 288-122 all-time at Bowlin Stadium, good for a .702 winning percentage. Last season, NU went 14-2 at home. 
• Bowlin Stadium is celebrating its 25th year in 2026. In its 25-year history, the stadium has hosted four NCAA Regionals and has seen Nebraska in the top 10 nationally in attendance  five times.
• Bowlin Stadium’s capacity sits at 3,000 patrons after additions of first and third base-line bleachers last season. 
• Husker fans set numerous attendance records last year at Bowlin Stadium, including the first sellout in Bowlin history with 3,021 fans against Maryland on May 3. NU’s weekend attendance of 7,929 for the Maryland series was a program record, along with the Big Red’s total (36,896) and average (2,306) attendances.
• Bowlin Stadium’s outfield will feature a new 10mm, 1080x640 pixel video board in 2026.
Huskers Handling Tough Non-Con
With the first month of softball season coming to a close, the Nebraska softball team is positioning itself to host an NCAA Regional in 2026.
• Nebraska’s past opponents this season have a combined record of 272-97, while its future opponents are 375-207. All in all, Nebraska’s opposition this season has a combined winning percentage of .680 and NU’s toughness of schedule ranks first in the country, according to the NCAA Statistics website.
• The Big Red has two wins this season over the No. 1 team in the country. At the Huskers’ season-opening tournament in San Antonio, Texas, they downed the Longhorns, 8-5, behind three-run homers by Ava Kuszak and Emmerson Cope and a scoreless four innings from Jordy Frahm. Just over a week later, NU took down Texas Tech, 3-2. The victory included a pitching win from Alexis Jensen, a perfect final three innings from Frahm and a home run from Jesse Farrell.
• Overall, the Huskers have posted eight wins in 13 games over teams that are currently ranked in the top 25 of the NFCA Coaches Poll or the USA Softball Poll -- Washington, Texas, LSU, UCF, Texas Tech, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. 
Pitching Trio Emerging for Huskers
The pitching staff of Jordy Frahm, Alexis Jensen and Hannah Camenzind has been impressive for the Huskers so far, with the three combining for all of Nebraska’s 11 wins in the circle.
• Frahm and Jensen have started 15 games for the Big Red and have a combined record of 10-5. The two have accounted for every win the Huskers have against a ranked team this season.
• In the four games Jensen has started and Frahm has come in in relief, the two combine for a record of 7-0 and an ERA of 1.64 with 76 strikeouts.
• There are only four Division I pitchers in the country to have struck out 70+ batters and allowed fewer than 10 walks -- two of them are Frahm and Jensen. The others are Maya Johnson from Belmont and Robyn Herron from Arkansas.
• In the Huskers’ win over then-No. 1 Texas on Feb. 7, Jensen tossed the first three innings before Frahm came in and threw four innings with no runs to claim the win. When NU beat then-No. 1 Texas Tech, Jensen grabbed the win, as she pitched the first four innings of the game and allowed only one earned run. Frahm threw a perfect final three innings with four strikeouts to claim the save.
• Hannah Camenzind had a solid weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, solidifying her place in NU’s pitching rotation and earning her Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors. Camenzind went 2-0 in the circle and threw a five-inning no-hitter against Hawaii. She tossed 10.0 innings last weekend and allowed no runs and only four hits. Her opponents averaged .118 at the plate.
• Camenzind is 4-0 this season and has not posted a loss since March 1, 2025.
Huskers Relying on Experience
The Nebraska softball team will rely on its experience in 2026, as the squad includes 12 seniors and 10 players with 100+ games played in their careers. 
• Nebraska returns 97% of its innings pitched from last year, including 58% from 2025 NFCA Player of the Year Jordy Frahm.
• The Big Red welcomes back 84% of its at-bats from last season, including the top nine batting averages. Frahm and Ava Kuszak highlight the returning bats, as both are in the top 10 in school history for single-season batting average (Frahm, 1st, .462; Kuszak, 7th, .412). 
• Ten total Huskers on this year’s roster have played 100+ games in their career and 10 have started more than 80 games.
• The Huskers’ 23-player roster includes 12 seniors and 17 total upperclassmen, 15 of which were on last season’s Super Regional team.
• With last year’s Super Regional berth, 20-of-23 (87%) of the NU’s 2026 squad has experience being in the NCAA Tournament. Frahm and Hannah Coor have WCWS experience and won national championships at Oklahoma.
A Look at the Huskers' Newcomers
Nebraska’s 2026 roster includes four newcomers, including two transfers and two true freshmen.
• Hannah Coor is a senior outfielder who came from Oklahoma, where she was a three-time national champion and played with current Husker Jordy Frahm. Coor appeared in 152 games with 25 starts in her time with the Sooners. She owns a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and has racked up 31 hits and 23 RBI on a .279 batting average. Coor was named a Big Ten Player to Watch prior to the 2026 season.
• Jesse Farrell, a junior catcher from UNLV, is the Huskers’ second transfer for 2026. Farrell was on the All-Mountain West second team in 2025 and was tabbed Second-Team NFCA All-West Region in 2024. Also in 2024, she was one of 25 finalists for the National Freshman of the Year. In her two years at UNLV, Farrell played in 100 games and started 99. She has 221 putouts with 139 assists in her career, along with a .338 batting average with 100 hits, 74 RBI and 19 homers.
• Nebraska adds freshman two-way phenom Alexis Jensen to its pitching staff and batting order in 2026. Jensen, a state champion at Gretna, was a MaxPreps Second-Team All-American in 2025 and a two-time Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year. Jensen was also a three-time Nebraska-All State Team member and owns Gretna program records in batting average (.445), career wins (83), strikeouts (959) and ERA (1.30). Jensen is a D1 Softball and Softball America Freshman to Watch.
• Skarlett Jones rounds out the newcomers for Nebraska. Jones played with Jensen and redshirt freshman Carlie Muhlbach at Gretna, where she was a state champion in 2024. Jones was on the Nebraska All-State team twice and was a two-time Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska selection. She posted a .409 batting average and .502 on-base percentage in her high school career.
NU's Offense Last Season
Nebraska returns a majority of its high-powered offense from 2025 that set 16 records, individually and as a team.
• The 2025 Nebraska softball team is first in school history with 107 home runs, 218 extra-base hits and 459 runs.
• The 2025 squad also ranks first in batting average (.346) and slugging percentage (.628) and second in on-base percentage (.430).
• NU notched the most run rule victories in program history with 26 last season.
• The Big Red scored 10+ runs in five straight games from Feb. 14-16 for the first time in program history. NU also notched five home runs in three straight games for what is believed to be the first time in school 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. 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 both posted three-homer games last year and are now tied with Kaylan Jablonski and Christie McCoy for the school record for home runs in a game. 
• Jordy Frahm and Ava Kuszak are both in the Nebraska record books in numerous offensive categories, which are tabled below. 
Huskers Earn Preseason Recognition
The Big Red have garnered preseason honors, both team and individual, in 2026.
• For the third straight season, the Huskers were ranked in every preseason poll. NU earned its highest spot from D1 Softball and USA Softball, both of which ranked the Huskers No. 9. Nebraska was tabbed No. 10 by the NFCA and No. 11 by Softball America.
• Jordy Frahm was named to the Top 50 Watch List for the USA Softball Player of the Year for the second straight season. She was a top-three finalist for the award last year. Frahm was tabbed a Preseason First-Team All-American by both D1 Softball and Softball America  and was the No. 2 overall player for both outlets. She was Softball America’s No. 1 two-way player and D1 Softball’s No. 2 pitcher and two-way player. Frahm was also named a Big Ten Player to Watch.
• Ava Kuszak was also on the Top 50 Watch List for USA Softball Player of the Year and was a Big Ten Player to Watch. She was a D1 Softball Preseason Second-Team All-American and the outlet’s No. 24 overall player and No. 4 shortstop. Softball America tabbed her the No. 43 overall player and No. 5 shortstop.
• Alexis Jensen was tabbed a Freshman to Watch by both Softball America and D1 Softball.
• Hannah Camenzind was Softball America’s No. 90 overall player and the No. 5 two-way player.
• Hannah Coor was named a Big Ten Player to Watch.
Frahm Back for Final Season
2025 NFCA Player of the Year and First-Team All-American Jordy Frahm returns for her final season of college softball. Frahm (previously Jordy Bahl) got married to former Husker baseball player Trey Frahm over the summer and changed her last name.
• Frahm earned numerous major national accolades last season, including being named a top three finalist for both the Honda Award for Softball and the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award.
• The two-way star was a First-Team All-American for the third time in her career and was named the NFCA DI Player of the Year after leading the Huskers to their first Super Regional appearance since 2014. 
• Frahm was both the 2025 Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Pitcher of the Year. She is the first athlete in Big Ten history to earn both awards in the same season.
• The Papillion, Neb., native owns the top season marks in school history in extra-base hits (41), home runs (23), runs scored (72), total bases (167), batting average (.462) and slugging percentage (.988).
• Frahm ended the season ranked in the top 10 nationally in hits allowed per seven innings (2nd), runs per game (4th), shutouts (4th), total bases (4th), runs (5th), strikeouts (5th), batting average (6th), complete games (6th), slugging percentage (6th), strikeouts per seven innings (6th), wins (6th), WHIP (6th), home runs (7th), ERA (8th), games started (8th) and home runs per game (9th).
• Frahm became the first player in NCAA history with more than 20 wins in the circle and more than 20 home runs at the plate in the same season.
• She was the first Husker ever with 15+ home runs and 15+ doubles in the same season, and the second Husker in history to record 60+ hits, runs and RBI in the same season.
• Frahm became the first player since 2017 to score more runs (72) than she allowed (68) with a minimum of 130 innings pitched.
Nebraska Natives Power Red Team
Nebraska softball’s 2026 roster boasts 11 local products, which is 48% of the team. 
• The Huskers’ 11 Nebraska natives come from seven different towns throughout the state -- Gretna, Valley, Omaha, Lincoln, Elkhorn, Blair and Papillion.
• Seniors Lauren and Hannah Camenzind, Bella Bacon, Kacie Hoffmann and Jordy Frahm all chose different programs out of high school and transferred back to Nebraska to finish out their careers.
• Shortstop Ava Kuszak is from Colorado, but played club ball for Nebraska Gold with Frahm and Bacon.
Nebraska's Pitching Staff
The Huskers return 97% of their innings pitched from last season, including 206.1 from two-way player Jordy Frahm. NU also welcomes back Kylee Magee, Hannah Camenzind and Emmerson Cope and adds freshman Alexis Jensen.
• Frahm pitched the majority of the Huskers’ innings last year and grabbed a 26-8 record. Her 26 wins were the sixth-most in the country. She finished the year with an ERA of 1.56, eight shutouts and 286 strikeouts. Her opponents logged a batting average of just .156.
• Going into the 2026 season, Frahm has the second-lowest ERA (1.27) of any active player in D1. She also has the third-most wins (70), fourth-most career strikeouts (686) and the fourth-most shutouts (23).
• Kylee Magee amassed a record of 8-4 with an ERA of 4.38 in her first season back from injury. She logged 45 strikeouts to 37 walks in 48.0 innings pitched.
• Magee was on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team her first year at Arizona State and has a 13-11 record in her career with an ERA of 3.81.
• Hannah Camenzind threw the second-most innings for the Huskers last year at 63.0. The two-way player also had the second-lowest ERA on the team at 3.11 and totaled a record of 5-2 in 24 appearances in the circle.
• In her career, Camenzind is 19-5 with an ERA of 3.11 and 96 strikeouts.
• Emmerson Cope tossed 29.1 innings last season and posted a 4.06 ERA. She was 4-1 in the circle in 2025 with nine strikeouts.
• Alexis Jensen will add even more depth to the Huskers’ pitching staff, as she was a MaxPreps Second-Team All-American in high school and a two-time Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year. Jensen has the Gretna records in career wins (83), strikeouts (959) and ERA (1.30). 
Red Team Sets Attendance Records
Not only did Nebraska set records in the circle and at the plate last year, but NU also enjoyed numerous attendance records. 
• Nebraska’s average attendance of 2,306 last season was first in the Big Ten and fourth nationally. NU’s total attendance of 36,896 was second in the Big Ten and 18th nationally. Notably, 12 of the schools above Nebraska in total attendance hosted an NCAA Regional, while the Huskers did not.
• The Big Red set program records in total attendance (36,896), average attendance (2,306), single-game attendance (3,021) and weekend series attendance (7,929) last season.
• Nebraska’s weekend attendance of 7,929 for last year’s series against Maryland was higher than seven Big Ten schools’ total attendance for 2025.
• Bowlin Stadium has a capacity of 2,800, which is tied with Michigan for the largest in the conference. Additionally, NU’s average attendance of 2,306 in 2025 was higher than 14 Big Ten schools’ stadium capacities.
Scouting South Dakota State
South Dakota State is 12-9 on the season, coming off of an 0-5 weekend at the Oklahoma State/Tulsa Tournament. NU and SDSU met at the tournament, and the Huskers claimed a  n 8-1 victory. Last year, the Jackrabbits were 29-26 with a 13-5 mark in conference play.
• Amanda Vacanti leads South Dakota State with a .490 batting average, along with seven home runs and four doubles. Emma Vike has posted a team-high 22 RBI on 26 hits. She has also scored 17 runs.
• Akayla Barnard and Alyvia Bollen are also key contributors to the Jackrabbit offense, as Barnard is 26-for-71 on the season with 20 RBI and 15 extra-base hits. Bollen has 19 hits with 14 RBI. Emma Christensen adds 23 hits and five doubles, while Bria Riebel contributes 21 hits and nine RBI.
• The Jackrabbits have a pitching staff of four main arms -- Madi Mangulis and Hailey Herman along with Barnard and Vacanti. Mangulis has tossed 39.1 innings and is 4-3 on the season with a 4.09 ERA. Barnard has a 2-1 record and a 4.42 ERA across 31.2 innings pitched, while Herman is 3-1 with a 5.25 ERA across 21.1 innings. Vacanti has a 5.32 ERA across 26.1 innings, along with a 1-3 record.
• Head coach Kristina McSweeney is in her fourth season at SDSU and is 113-76 with the Jackrabbits. In her 14-season career, she has compiled a record of 473-263-1.
Scouting Omaha
Omaha is 14-4 this season with their only losses coming to Troy, Arkansas and Kansas. The Huskers and Mavericks met in a game last fall, with Omaha coming out on top, 1-0. Last season, the Mavs went 40-13, won the Summit League title and appeared in the NCAA regional round.
• Sammy Schmidt and Taylor Sedlacek lead Omaha with batting averages of .432 and .431, respectively. Schmidt has 19 hits with three homers, while Sedlacek has 23 RBI with a team-high 22 hits.
• Bailey Sample, Rylinn Groff, Marra Cramer and Katherine Johnson each contribute batting averages over .300. Sample has four homers and four doubles, while Groff adds 19 hits and a .514 on-base percentage. Cramer owns a team-high 26 RBI with 20 hits and eight doubles and Johnson is 19-for-54 with 20 RBI.
• All-American Maddia Groff has thrown 46.1 innings and has a 4-2 record with a 3.63 ERA. She adds 56 strikeouts with 10 walks. Alexis Wiggins is 6-1 with a 3.42 ERA across 11 apperances and 30.2 innings. Grace Hornbuckle has a team-low 2.59 ERA and 28 strikeouts across 24.1 innings.
• Head Coach Mike Heard is in his fifth season with Omaha and is 162-63 with the Mavericks. In 11 career seasons, Heard has compiled a record of 314-159. Mike’s brother, Bill Heard, coached Alexis Jensen, Carlie Muhlbach and Skarlett Jones at Gretna.