No. 9 Nebraska softball (1-1) opened the 2026 season with a ranked win and a ranked loss in the UTSA Invitational in San Antonio, Texas.
The Huskers started the season with a gritty 8-5 win over No. 25 Washington (1-1). Although NU and the Huskies are both in the Big Ten, this game does not count towards the conference standings. The Huskies run ruled UTSA 17-0 in five innings after playing Nebraska.
The reigning national champions, No. 1 Texas, took down Nebraska 15-10 in the second game of the doubleheader. The Longhorns (1-0) recorded five runs in the top of the fourth to lead 9-2. Just as they thought the game was in the bag, Nebraska scored five runs in the bottom of the same inning to make it 9-7 UT. Texas batted home five runs in the seventh, taking a 15-7 advantage. The Huskers dug deep for three more runs but fell short 15-10.
Here is a breakdown of Nebraska’s opening day doubleheader.
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Huskers defeat Huskies 8-5 in opener
Freshman left-handed pitcher Alexis Jensen started vs. the Huskies. The Gretna, Neb. native struck out 10 batters in five innings. She gave up six hits, five runs, including three earned runs. Senior righty Jordy (Bahl) Frahm closed out the game. She allowed one hit and struck out three in two innings for a save.
Junior righty Rylee Rehbein got the start for Washington in the circle but didn’t last long. She gave up one hit, three runs, three walks, and two earned runs in one inning. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Morgan Reimer pitched the following five innings. She allowed six hits, five runs, with five earned runs, and struck out one.
The Huskers set a program record of 106 home runs during the 2025 season. Nebraska still has major firepower in its lineup. They hit two home runs in their victory over Washington. In the bottom of the second, Jesse Farrell crushed a homer on her first pitch in the box as a Husker. Three batters later, Lauren Camenzind smashed a three-run homer to left field to take a 4-1 lead.
Washington was also sending balls past the fence. Gabi Toney hit two solo homers, one in the top of the second and the other in the top of the fourth, to tie the game 4-4. The 2025 Freshman of the Year Alexis DeBoer rocketed a pitch to right center field for a solo in the top of the third, making it 4-2 Huskers.
DeBoer hit another solo shot to center field for UW to take a 5-4 advantage in the top of the fifth. Nebraska responded with a four-run fifth inning to take an 8-5 lead. Farrell’s fly ball was dropped, resulting in two Husker runs. Hannah Coor and Frahm added an RBI each. Frahm closed out the game, earning a save.
Huskers fall to reigning champs
Two of the best pitchers in the country squared off on ESPN+. Frahm started for the Huskers, and right-handed pitcher Teagan Kavan got the start in the circle for Texas. But both were pulled after three innings.
Frahm gave up six hits, five earned runs, walked one and struck out two in 58 pitches. Hannah Camenzind replaced Frahm in the circle at the top of the fourth. With no outs in the fourth, Camenzind gave up three hits and three runs and had a wild pitch that plated a run. She allowed seven hits, seven runs, walked four and had two wild pitches in three innings. Emmerson Cope closed out the game, giving up three hits and two earned runs.
Kavan, a 2025 Second Team All-American, didn’t fare any better. She allowed seven hits, seven runs and struck out three batters. Righty Citialy Gutierrez took over in the circle and was lights out for UT. The senior allowed one hit in 2 2/3 innings until giving up three runs and four hits in the seventh. Freshman Hannah Wells came in for the final out, striking out Coor.
The Longhorns batted in two runs in the second and third innings. They seemingly busted open the game with a five-run fourth inning. They hit two homers off Frahm and had nine hits in the first four innings. Kayden Henry went 3-of-3 for three RBI and two doubles in the first four innings.
Nebraska didn’t shy away from a seven-run deficit. They had three straight singles to start the bottom of the fourth and ignited a five-run surge. Coor had a three-RBI homer to left field to retire Kavan.
Texas posted five runs in the top of the seventh to take a 15-7 lead behind five hits, including three doubles and a two-RBI homer by Reese Atwood. Again, Nebraska refused to go down without a fight. They scored three runs off three singles, two walks and a hit by pitch.
Jensen has a promising first start, learns a tough lesson
Against Washington in the early game, Jensen became the first true freshman to start opening day in the circle since 2019. The lefty showed that she can compete well at the next level, but she had a couple of rookie mistakes. Jensen caught several batters swinging or watching with her nasty change-up. She threw 66 strikes and 18 balls for a 79 strike percentage.
Unlike high school, if a pitch is left hanging over the plate, hitters will make you pay every single time. Jensen has several pitches she wants back. But learned an important, but tough, lesson in her first start.
Frahm carried a heavy workload of pitching 58% of Nebraska’s innings in 2025. Now, Nebraska seems to have another true starter and closer, according to head coach Rhonda Revelle.
Jensen could get her shot at Texas on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 3:35 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The Huskers face UTSA at 6:05 p.m. in Saturday’s doubleheader.