UCLA had taken an early 2-0 lead on Jordy Frahm and the Huskers with the highlight being a tape-measure solo home run by Megan Grant. In addition to stretching the Bruins lead, it was also her 38th of the season (in 55 games) and broke the NCAA D1 single-season record.
But the heat rose in the bottom of the third and it wasn’t even from a play on the field.
Emmerson Cope ripped a single to get things going. Then Kacie Hoffman was hit in the wrist and in obvious pain was pinch run for by Katelyn Caneda who joined the speedy Kennadi Williams on base doing the same for Cope. Lauren Camenzind laid down a perfect bunt to move them over. With Frahm up and one out, UCLA elected to intentionally walk her.
Then Hannah Coor came up and the fireworks started.
Coor grounded to second and Frahm sprinted over but ran into second baseman Kaniya Bragg. The ruling, absolutely correct by the way, was baserunner interference on Frahm. Coor takes 1st base and Williams and Caneda return to theirs; no run scores, one out. The umps met to make sure they were all on the same page and replaced everyone.
This really was the best case scenario for UCLA, but here came Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez to chat with the umps. They then gathered on the field to meet again. What else could she want? The answer? She was challenging for malicious intent on Frahm. The meaning? She thought Jordy meant to do damage and if upheld, this would result in her ejection.
Fans, players, Nate Rohr on the radio call (“bush-league” was a description used multiple times) and myself (see my tweet below) were a Michael Vick bomb away from being happy about this. First of all, it appeared a case could be made that Bragg pulled up short to draw just such a call. But beyond that, there was zero evidence Frahm was trying to take her out or intentionally cause harm. The review dragged on a little but the challenge was finally denied.
And the ethical side of the challenge was shaky at best. It seemed nothing more than a wild swing at getting the Husker starter and hugest offensive threat tossed from the game. Bragg had shown no hint of injury – moments after the call she was giggling in a UCLA mound huddle. It was nothing intentional by Bragg at all, but it underscored the fact that the “malicious” collision hadn’t been anything of the sort.
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.