BIG 10 Tourney FINAL Recap – Fired-Up HUSKERS Erupt for the Crown: #2 NEBRASKA 7 – #6 UCLA 2

While Revelle was tactfully non-committal about the challenge’s effect after the game – “I don’t know that it did, but it didn’t hurt. I think it kind of gave us a reset, you know?” – the players seemed to take it a bit more intensely than a “reset”.

Whether it was trying to get Frahm booted or taking offense that their coach was going for softball’s equivalent of Flagrant 2 on a player who simply doesn’t play that way. As Revelle also said, “Everybody knows Jordy. There’s nothing malicious about her, right? I think it was more like ‘(she’s) being accused of what??‘”

So up came Hannah Camenzind who had reacted to being left off the Big 10 All-Conference teams the day before with an opposite field double to the corner. This time her vengeful bat, and perhaps karma, took over as she ripped one up the middle into center field. Williams scored easily and an ill-advised throw sailed home which had no chance of catching Caneda and squibbed out toward 3rd in foul territory.

Coor, sensing blood in the tide, flew around third and just kept going. Catcher Alexis Ramirez’ throw perhaps slipped because it was weak and off the mark getting away again. When the dust settled, Camenzind was standing on 3rd base and Coor, Williams and maybe Caneda were perhaps letting UCLA know what they thought of the coach’s challenge after all crossed the plate.

It was only 3-2, but, at least on the Husker side, one could sense the Bruins wouldn’t be coming back from that knockdown blow.

Nebraska struck again an inning later. Sammie Bland, who easily made the all-tournament team, ripped a single to left, stole second with UCLA being slow to cover the bag, and dove to beat the throw to third after the ball skipped into center. Kacie Hoffman, hit on the wrist in her previous bat, ran the count to 2-1, fought off FOUR straight pitches, then got the one she wanted and sent it well over the right field fence for a 5-2 lead.

More karma? Let’s say yes so others aren’t tempted to try and get players kicked out on a frivolous challenge.

Ava Kuszak led off the bottom of the 6th with a blast just fair down the left field line – perhaps that for Emmerson Cope who narrowly missed a homer in the same spot to start that stormy 3rd inning. Maybe that was karma as well since things might not roll out the same way if the bases aren’t loaded for Jordy. Fine, I’m digging now.

But yet another Bruins miscue with two out scored the final Husker run on an errant throw from 3rd allowed pinch runner Nessa McMillen scampered home. Also, is there a manager’s stat for pinch runner success? That made it 3-for-3 scoring on the day, so hats off to Coach Revelle.

That was the offensive story. Jordy Frahm? Following Grant’s record-setting homer, she dug in again and retired 13 of the final 15 UCLA Bruins she faced going the full 7 innings holding the Bruins offense (.389 AB, .499 OB%, 181 HR’s, etc etc) to 2 runs (1 earned, but c’mon – Megan Grant) and 5 hits. She struck out 8, walked 1 and made her case for Brinks truck full of post-season awards again.

But this team won’t be interested in those things until the season’s conclusion, hopefully in Oklahoma City.

The Huskers will return to action back at Bowlin Stadium – check that – Rhonda Revelle Field at Bowlin Stadium! – next weekend as Nebraska will host an NCAA Regional first round series. To learn the opponents, watch the NCAA Softball Selection Show on ESPN2 Sunday at 6pm. Soon after days and times for the regional will be released.