Huskers again one win away from WCWS, this time in Lincoln.

Nebraska has been here before and is just one win away.

It may seem like a long time ago, but you may remember when Nebraska rolled into Knoxville in Game 1 of the Super Regional, defeating No. 7 Tennessee 5-2 and falling just one win away from making it to the Women’s College World Series.

Then the weekend changed, with host Tennessee winning the next two games by just one point, 3-2 and 1-0, ending Nebraska’s season with a trip to Oklahoma City on the horizon. On Friday in Lincoln, the Huskers defeated Oklahoma State in Game 1 of the first-ever Lincoln Super Regional.

NU defeated the Cowgirls 8-1 and once again came within one win of a College World Series berth. However, if you ask the coaches and players, there is clearly a different atmosphere this year.

It’s not going to be a quiet night for Oklahoma State when the Huskers take the field Saturday afternoon, but it’s a big deal for Nebraska to be in this game in Lincoln compared to Knoxville.

NU players don’t have to ride a bus or walk to someone else’s stadium. The last thing they want to do is try to silence the crowd. It’s the first time Nebraska can say that on the softball diamond in late May. It’s a home sweet home situation for these Huskers.

“It was loud. It was fun,” Nebraska senior Jordy Frahm said Friday night after the Game 1 win. “You could definitely feel a great moment building with the audience.”

Even to casual spectators, Friday night felt different than last year’s season opener in Knoxville. Friday’s 8-1 victory took place in front of 3,279 fans at Bolin Stadium, and from the bottom of the first inning the Huskers played like a team determined to make that advantage meaningful.

“I was talking to someone on my staff right before this, and we found ourselves in this situation last year after winning Game 1,” Frahm said. “When you think about coming to the game tomorrow and playing in front of your home state fans, it feels really good to be in the same situation at home.”

The Huskers know what this moment is like, but they also know how quickly one super regional win on the road can turn into a long offseason. For many players on this roster, last year isn’t that far of a reference point.

It’s still recent enough to matter, but last year’s heartache could serve as a “valuable lesson” for teams hoping to avoid the same outcome in 2026. If Nebraska’s 8-1 rout of OSU is any indication, it’s safe to say NU will be back to intensity heading into Saturday afternoon’s showdown.

In Knoxville last season, Nebraska landed the first punch but then fizzled out. In Friday’s game against OSU, Nebraska landed the first punch, then another, and then another.

The Huskers scored three points in the first inning, four more in the third, and added another in the sixth. Oklahoma State’s only score came in the sixth inning when Carly Godwin hit a solo home run. By then, Nebraska had already built a commanding 7-0 lead.

Nebraska finished with 12 hits and eight runs with no errors. Jesse Farrell went 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs. Frahm pitched a complete game with five hits, one earned run, two walks and seven strikeouts. She helped herself by getting two hits at bat.

It is a performance that will change the emotional temperature of the local community. Thanks to the early cushion, Frahm didn’t have to carry every pitch as the season depended on it. After a difficult run through the regional round, Nebraska’s offense finally gave its pitchers some breathing room.

“I think it just turns high-stress pitching into competitive pitching,” Frahm said. “As a pitcher, I really feel the difference between the two.”

In 2025, Tennessee stormed back in Game 2, and the series tightened into a postseason battle that would engulf an unprepared team. There was a fine line between Oklahoma City’s dreams and Knoxville’s heartbreak, but Nebraska wasn’t able to make it through.

Now, who’s to say how last season ended will still be fresh in the minds of many team leaders this weekend, but for coach Rhonda Revell, this isn’t a bad memory to forget. Given how NU played Friday, Knoxville’s score might be on the locker room sign.

The Huskers had seven total hits in the 8-1 win, but that could pose a bigger problem for OSU on Saturday. The Cowgirls can’t treat the Huskers like a one- or two-player lineup. The Super Region opener showed that Nebraska can cause seizures from all parts of the lineup.

“Like I said last week, I think it was Game 3. I know we didn’t have the scoring to show for it, but I thought our approach was better,” Revell said. “What I know about this offensive line is they all take a lot of pride in doing what’s best for this team. We just learned last week that we felt like we were just missing a lot of pitches, so we’ve got to start swinging the bats and good things can happen. That was the strategy — yeah.”

For the second time in two years, Nebraska is right near Oklahoma City. The challenge now is to stay emotionally present and not be swallowed up by the memories of last year. There is a fine line between experience and baggage. Nebraska’s challenge on Saturday will be to signal the moment without reminding us of what happened last year.

Frahm’s comments after the team’s super regional win suggested the Huskers were in the right place mentally. She didn’t sound like a player relieved to survive Game 1, instead praising Oklahoma State’s ability to adjust in what ultimately led to its first and only game.

“I would say I felt like I changed Oklahoma State’s game plan a little bit throughout the game, and they made me change my plan,” Frahm said. “They put the pressure on at the end so they deserve credit.”

And that’s enough pressure for Nebraska to remember that Game 2 isn’t just a rematch of Friday. Rebel seemed to understand that as well, and kept the conversation returning to fundamentals, defense, and preparation.

“When you get to this point in the season, pitching and defense cliches really win championships,” Rebel said. “And once the attack creates some separation and distance, you can just breathe a little bit.”

Nebraska was able to take a breather and relax on the field Friday after a tense three-day district game. NU ended the game with a double play and made no mistakes until the middle of the game. Revell specifically pointed to those moments because they are the detailed moments that often make super regional decisions when the scoreboard is tense.

Last year, Nebraska learned just how small that gap is. This year is your chance to see if you can apply what you’ve learned. It doesn’t hurt that they try to get the job done at Bolin Stadium instead of Knoxville or other destinations outside the capital.

Playing this historic game at home will allow NU to feel that great moment with the home crowd. Being one win away from the College World Series is common for this Husker team and coaching staff, but no player or coach in the NU dugout says they feel the same way.

And that’s perfectly fine with them.

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