At the USTA Invitational, Gretna freshman Alexis Jensen hit five home runs and gave up 19 hits in 10.1 innings. But she also struck out 21 batters while walking none and showed off the performance that coach Rhonda Revelle has given her as the No. 2 spot in the Huskers rotation starting in 2026. Last weekend, Jansen threw some late pitches that caused top D1 hitters to jump at times. The stuff is there, but it needs some tweaking.
Consider the adjustments Jensen made as he dominated LSU’s dangerous No. 10 lineup.
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She started the game and pitched 4 innings, striking out 6 and walking just one. The Tigers didn’t have a hit until her final out, and she added another hit soon after. During that at-bat, catcher Jesse Farrell nearly caught speedy Sierra Daniel stealing second base on Jensen’s changeup. The ball arrives in time but Daniel slides it into the tag.
We may have seen what Jensen learned from her first weekend when a runner was in scoring position. With the score 3-1 against All-American Tori Edwards, she elected to try the corner and missed her first walk of the young season, then forced a fly ball to left to end the inning in clean fashion. A weekend in advance? She could challenge for center field at the plate and get the Tigers on base.
Serious gas, a changeup that just brings hitters to their knees plus the ability to adjust and learn – the second spot seems to have gone from a weakness to a strength at the moment, folks.
Ejection after four innings was no problem; Revell said before the game that she might split the game between Janssen and Jody Frum. Frum struck out four in three scoreless innings and ran into trouble until the seventh inning when he loaded the bag with no outs.
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no problem.
Short fly balls, grounders to the mound and, of course, strikeouts, the Huskers completed the shutout.
The Huskers loaded the bases in the top of the third inning when Farrell singled to left base and Lauren Camenzid sailed all the way from first base. They then opened up the game in the next inning with run-scoring doubles by Fram and Hannah Kamenshinde, extending their lead to 5-0.
They completed the scoring when Sammie Bland blasted another two-run homer to left center and then scored on an inside single by Frahm. Brand hit an RBI fly ball in the fourth, which was an added bonus as he ended an 0-for-15 record.
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The Huskers spread eight hits across the lineup, showing they can find ways to drive runs without the help of the long ball — the first in the opening six games that a Nebraska batter didn’t leave the field.
The No. 8 Huskers will next face the No. 17 Georgia Bulldogs, who trail Oklahoma State 6-0 late in the game as of the time of publication. Have Frahm get Jensen ready to start that one if needed. After starting the season ranked No. 9, the Huskers moved up one spot in two polls and dropped some in the other two — I guess that’s head-scratching evidence when you beat No. 1 but lose to No. 22? Personally, I think it takes a small jump to beat number one.
3:00 PM CST Live on ESPN+ – See you there.
