“That’s kind of been one of our mantras this whole year, is don’t get ready, be ready.” – Nebraska Head Coach Rhonda Revelle
And, brother, the Huskers were ready for All-American Ruby Meylan today.
Nebraska softball fans know the story. Meylan had a dominant high school career at Omaha Skutt and then spent two years at the University of Washington before transferring to Oklahoma State in 2025. In four appearances against the Huskers she had only given up 3 runs (26 innings).
On Friday, in Game 1 of the NCAA Lincoln Super Regional, the Huskers inflicted more damage than that in 3 innings.
Starting with the bottom of the first, which began on Thursday evening and didn’t end until late Friday afternoon thanks to an ESPN-ignored storm, the Huskers began Friday with Hannah Coor on first and one out. Hannah Camenzind then started things with a single down the left-field line. After Ava Kuszak went down on strikes, Jessie Farrell turned on a 1-0 Meylan pitch and drove it high, deep and out to left-center and Huskers found themselves with a quick 3-0 lead.
Jordy Frahm was on the mound for Nebraska, so confidence spiked. And with her working on a 20-inning scoreless streak which would last until she gave up a Karli Godwin solo shot in the top of the 6th inning, it was easy to understand why. She went the distance for the 16th time in 20 starts and earned her 20th win of the season scattering 5 hits while striking out 7. And, as has often been the case, she chipped in at the plate as well with a 2-for-4 showing.
The Huskers weren’t done with Meylan, however.
In the second, they led off with two more hits, but couldn’t bring either runner home. However, in the third, Hannah Camenzind walked, Kuszak doubled into the right-field corner, and then Farrell went with a pitch and stroked it up the middle for her 4th and 5th RBI’s. The Huskers were up 5-0. Sammie Bland then drove one over everyone’s head which banged off the right-field wall for a double.
And, just like that, Meylan’s afternoon was over. Two infield grounders after she left scored Farrell and Bland leaving her on the hook for those runs as well. Her line ended with 2 IP, 8 hits, 7 ER’s and her 23rd HR given up in ‘26.
I asked Head Coach Kenny Gajewski if she was leaving some pitches out over the plate or if the Huskers were just getting bats on good stuff. He said, “I think probably a little bit of both,” but also added, “There were too many drops left up, too many rise balls that looked a hair flat in or out, hard to tell from the side, but yeah, she just wasn’t very good for her today, and and and they made her pay.”
The top three in the Huskers order (Frahm, Coor, Camenzind) plus Bland carried them in the regional last weekend, but the 4 through 9 spots roared back on Friday. After a 3-for-37 performance against South Dakota and Grand Canyon, they were 8-18 against the Okie State staff…and the Cowgirls used almost all of them. Five Huskers had two hits apiece and Farrell made hers count the most driving in 5 of the Huskers’ 8 runs for an evening to remember.
Gajewski confirmed Meyland will be right back out there on Saturday for the Cowgirls. As for the Huskers, the likely bet is Alexis Jensen with Frahm being locked and loaded at the slightest hint of trouble. And probably coming in by the 6th inning even if there is none.
Game 2 is Saturday at 4pm CST and will be broadcast on ESPN2. The if-needed-game is still TBD, although it would almost have to played on Sunday. It is likely in the hands of ESPN’s TV wishes should it come to that, so prepare to self-medicate. As always, the game can be listened to for free on Huskers Radio Network.
Fun fact: The Huskers gave All-American Karlyn Pickens an early exit while defeating Tennessee in the opening game of last year’s Knoxville Super Regional before falling in 3 games. This will not happen in two consecutive seasons.