No one will ever replace Billie. But we appreciate efforts like this out of anyone who cares to try.

It wasn’t supposed to start this way.

The Huskers, less than 24 hours previous, had just staked their claim to greatness with a convincing 7-1 win over the #5 Tennessee Volunteers.

Then the top of the 1st inning ended with the unranked Southern Mississippi Eagles, they of a 22-29 record in 2024, up 1-0 without so much as a hit. The “Doom is us,” contingent, our minds stuffed with the horrors and perversions of recent football memories, tried to tamp our demons down and hope for the best.

There was little to worry about.

Ava Kuszak led off with a single and took 2nd on a wild pitch. Jordy Bahl, manning 1st base in the field and still batting second, drove her home on a shot and took 2nd on the throw to the plate. She moved over on a fielder’s choice and scored on a passed ball. Sammie Bland singled up the middle and took 3rd on Abbie Squire’s double. Elkhorn South grad and Arkansas transfer Kacie Hoffman singled to clear the bags.

Nebraska 4 Southern Miss 1.

The Eagles tried to answer with a run in the top of the 2nd. Emmerson Cope answered with a 2-run shot to left for 6-2 Nebraska Cornhuskers lead.

Sorry for the scare.

It may have been anti-climactic, but it was still fun to see.

With one out and an 8-2 lead, new shortstop and Wisconsin transfer Ava Kuszak stepped up to the plate after stepping into some pretty big shoes to start 2025 with her new team. She would be taking over at short for multiple year All-American and holder of too many Huskers hitting records, including home runs, to list, Billie Andrews.

 Huskers Athletics

Well, all Ava did today was go 2-3 scoring two runs and knocking in four. And those four came courtesy of the shot she ripped over the fence with the bases loaded to end the game in the bottom of the 5th via the mercy rule for a 12-2 win.

No one will ever replace Billie. But we appreciate efforts like this out of anyone who cares to try.

In a game where plenty of Huskers smacked the ball and crossed the plate, Jordy Bahl kept a hot bat going and Arkansas transfer Kacie Hoffman went 2-2 with a couple of ribeyes in her debut. (Yes, I called RBI’s that.)

Kylie Magee struggled for a couple innings in her Husker debut, but then settled in for a 1-2-3 inning before giving way to Cope.

And Emmerson Cope, what an afternoon. She drove in another run besides the 2-run blast on a 2-3 day. But perhaps, more importantly, after being able to hit but not pitch at the end of the ‘24 season, she returned to the mound today to toss two perfect innings.

The largest chunk ever of a Huskers roster under Coach Rhonda Revelle hit the MASH unit last season. And I can’t wait to write the stories of the Huskers in that tent who returned as they return to full strength.