After the top of the 3rd, a few folks had early warning lights going off in their heads.
A Bria Riebel 3-run homer hit high to left-center may have gotten a nudge from the 15-20mph winds blowing out that way, but, boost or not, all 3 runs counted and a Husker 2-1 lead was suddenly a 4-2 deficit.
No problem as catcher Jessie Farrell and shortstop Ava Kuszak were feeling none of the slight anxiety being experienced by the schlub currently writing this article. First, Farrell got a little break when her Jacks
counterpart couldn’t haul in a pop-up behind the plate by the screen – she then froze the right fielder with a lined shot which screamed over her head to the base of the wall.
Kuszak, who struggled at the plate some in Stillwater, then promptly put a beautiful swing on the first pitch depositing it well over the right-center field wall. It evened the score at 4-4 and calmed most anyone who had begin sweating in the beautiful 60 degree weather.
For those who were still a little nervous, the bottom of the 4th eased things considerably as Nebraska unwrapped another big inning, this one to the tune of 5 runs. Jordy Frahm knocked in Hannah Coor and Katelyn Caneda with a sharp single up the middle. Then, two batters later, it was Hannah Camenzind with a 3-run blast to extend the lead to 9-4.
Slight anxiety was once again the order of the night as Jensen walked the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the 7th. Natalia Hill then failed to handle a deep shot to left and runners were on 2nd and 3rd base with no one out.
Jensen, who has acknowledged how great it is to have a mentor like Frahm for season, followed with a very solid imitation of her from the left side.
Strikeout swinging.
Strikeout looking.
Strikeout swinging.
Game over.
Huskers win 9-4.
(And if you’ve never checked out Mel Brooks’ hilarious movie High Anxiety with himself, Harvey Korman and Madeline Kahn, I highly recommend it. Food for the funny bone.)
The Huskers swatted 11 hits with Jordy (3), and Farrell and Ava with 2 apiece leading the way. Hannah Cam led the RBI parade with the 3 runs her home run blast provided.
It was a solid performance by Jensen whose Jekyll and Hyde tendencies reared their heads again. On the down side, she surrendered 2 more home runs bringing her total on the season to 11.
But –
In her complete game effort, she only surrendered 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 13 bringing her season totla on those to 91 in only 51 1/3 innings, which is just plain scary.
Before her time in Lincoln is done, that change-up will have caused many opposing hitters to undertake serious therapy.
Game 2 is set to start at 6:25.
