Kuszak's big swing delivers Husker softball its first world series win since 2002

Senior shortstop Ava Kuszak delivered the knockout blow.

On Thursday night, No. 4 overall seed Husker softball escaped with a walk-off, extra inning win against No. 5 overall seed Arkansas, 5-3. Kuszak hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to send the Big Red to the winner's bracket of the Women's College World Series.

Kuszak described the emotional swing during the postgame press conference.

"I feel like I took a couple steps because it felt good off the bat, but I wasn't sure. And then, I just threw my hands up, hoping it was going out," she said. "And then, I think the tears started coming around third, just seeing all of these girls just absolutely screaming, and I was like, 'There's just no way, that just happened.'"

It was Nebraska’s first Women’s College World Series win in 24 years. NU’s last postseason win in Oklahoma City came back in 2002, which was a 1-0 decision over Michigan.

Extra-inning drama and a loud, record-breaking crowd highlighted the opening round nightcap. Softball regulation is seven innings. But that wouldn’t be enough for these two teams. They traded big play for big play throughout the night.

Nebraska had to overcome an early deficit. Arkansas grabbed a 2-0 lead early.

Despite Nebraska fans cheering and chanting at the start of the second inning, Razorback left fielder Kailey Wyckoff smacked a home run over the left centerfield wall. Big Red centerfielder Hannah Coor elevated above the wall but missed a spectacular catch by about a foot.

After the home run, senior pitcher Jordy Frahm found her groove. The Omaha-area pitcher and first baseman sat down 11 straight batters following the Arkansas blast. Frahm and Coor are the two players on the Husker roster with world series experience.

Frahm pitched all 10 innings and struck out nine on 133 total pitches. She earned her 21st win on the season.

The only threat NU mounted early was upended by the Razorbacks in the bottom of the second. But by the fourth inning, Nebraska broke through. Head coach Rhonda Revelle’s team struck back-to-back singles with one out. Arkansas brought in a new pitcher, but senior Samantha Bland was unbothered by the different look. She slapped a single the other way to cut the lead in half. Then, Bella Bacon grounded out to second, which brought in the tying run from third.

The teams traded dazzling defensive plays, including a diving catch by Bland and a double play started by Frahm in the circle.

With the score still tied a 2-2, Arkansas started off the top of the seventh inning strong. Tianna Bell smoked a single to left. Dakota Kennedy drew a walk on the next at bat. That left two on with no one out. Karlie Davison then popped up a bunt, and Atalyia Rijo grounded out to first to put the runners on second and third with two out. The only Razorback to drive in a run at the time, Wyckoff, stepped up to the plate. She grounded out to first, allowing Frahm to escape the jam.

The Huskers didn't get much going in the seventh.

In the eighth, using a bloop single over Frahm’s head, Arkansas brought a runner into scoring position. Ella McDowell, who made several great plays at third base on defense, hit a single over her counterpart’s head to bring in the go-ahead run.

With the Huskers now behind 3-2, Coor got a hold of one with one out. The centerfielder lined a ball over the centerfield wall to tie the game at 3. Hannah Camenzind nearly ended the game right there, with a shot that bounced off the wall in right center for a double. The Huskers couldn’t convert on the opportunity but eventually came through in the 10th on the massive, two-out swing from Kuszak.

The win was the Huskers' 27th in a row -- a school record -- giving them a 52-6 overall record.

The Big Red will face No. 1 overall seed Alabama at 6 p.m. Central time on Saturday. That game, with the winner put in the driver’s seat in the double-elimination format, will air on ESPN.