Huskers Rout Islanders, 20-1

Two eight-run innings and a balanced offense led the No. 18 Nebraska softball team to a dominating 20-1 five-inning victory over the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders on Friday morning at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M.

 

The Huskers’ offense was unstoppable, as five players knocked a home run and the team scored 20 runs on 13 hits, along with 18 RBIs and three doubles. The 20 runs scored was the most since April 3, 2016. 

 

Malia Thoms notched the first home run of her career, a pinch-hit grand slam in the top of the fourth inning, to reach a career-high four RBIs. 

 

Emmerson Cope (1-0) claimed the win in the circle for the Big Red. Cope pitched 2.0 scoreless innings of one-hit relief. Hannah Camenzind started and allowed one run in 2.0 innings, while Caitlin Olensky closed out the game with a perfect fifth inning.

 

Nebraska actually trailed early, as Texas A&M - Corpus Christi opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when a Skylar Heger single sent Paolina Baez to the plate. 

 

The Huskers struck back immediately in the top of the second. Emmerson Cope walked, and Samantha Bland singled to shortstop before advancing to second on an Islander error. On the same error, Nessa McMillen, who pinch ran for Cope, crossed the plate. Two at bats later, a Lauren Camenzind single scored Bland, and NU took a 2-1 lead.

 

NU continued to extend the advantage with an eight-run top of the third when Jordy Bahl blasted the second home run of her career and of the 2025 season. Olivia DiNardo and Kacie Hoffmann each reached base before a Cope ground out advanced Hoffmann to second and DiNardo to third. Bland connected for the second time of the morning to send Hoffmann and DiNardo home. Hannah Camenzind doubled to score Bland, stretching the lead to 6-1 and forcing a pitching change. Lauren Camenzind sent her sister to the plate to make the score 7-1. Ava Kuszak hit the second home run of the inning and Abbie Squier and L. Camenzind crossed the plate and the Huskers led 10-1.

 

In the top of the fourth, Bredwell, Cope and Natalia Hill all walked, and Alina Felix reached on an error to score Bredwell and advance Cope and Hill. Thoms’ grand slam, the first home run of her career, scored Felix, Hill and Cope and made the score 15-1. Kennadi Williams walked and was scored by a Katelyn Caneda double. Caneda then crossed the plate on an error, Talia Tokheim homered and NU led 18-1 after four.

 

Felix hit a two-run homer in the top of the fifth to seal the 20-1 run-rule victory, the Big Red’s third run-rule win of the season. 

 

NU will continue action this afternoon against New Mexico State at 3 p.m. (CT). The game can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network. 

 

Postgame Notes