Who is Jordy Bahl? What to know of Nebraska pitcher amid NCAA softball tournament
Show Caption
Hide Caption
SEC teams facing pressure ahead of NCAA softball tournament
Missouri must win it all, while Georgia and Alabama need deep SEC runs to stay in the mix.
After a one-year hiatus due to injury, Jordy Bahl is back to doing Jordy Bahl things this season for Nebraska.
Because of that, the two-time national champion and first-team All-American pitcher is back to pitching in the postseason and NCAA softball tournament.
REQUIRED READING: Who will make Women's College World Series? NCAA softball tournament picks, predictions
In her first season at Nebraska, the former Oklahoma pitcher has anchored the Cornhuskers' pitching staff while showing off her two-way talents at the plate. Bahl will likely get the ball in Nebraska's opening game of the Baton Rouge Regional on Friday, May 16 at 3 p.m. ET against UConn.
While doing all this — which included leading Nebraska to a semifinal appearance in the Big Ten tournament — Bahl was named a top 25 finalist for the USA Softball National Player of the Year award. She ranks in the top 15 of 13 statistical categories, including shutouts pitched (fifth), strikeouts (sixth) and home runs (14th).
Here's what you need to know about Bahl as Nebraska starts its run in the 2025 NCAA softball tournament:
REQUIRED READING: NCAA softball tournament winners, losers, snubs from 2025 selection show
Who is Jordy Bahl?
Nebraska's right-handed ace is one of the more decorated pitchers in NCAA softball history.
The Nebraska native was a freshman phenom, posting a 22-1 record with a 1.09 ERA, the latter of which ranked sixth in the nation. Bahl followed that up with an even stronger sophomore season, which consisted of a 7-0 record and a 0.18 ERA in seven NCAA Tournament games in 2023.
Following her 2023 season in Norman, Oklahoma, Bahl left Patty Gasso's squad to transfer to Nebraska. She ended her time as a Sooner by being named the Most Outstanding Player at the WCWS and an NFCA First Team All-American. She ranks second in ERA in Oklahoma history at 0.99.
Bahl missed all but the opening game of the Cornhuskers' 2024 season with a torn ACL. She returned in 2025, notching a 23-6 record in 34 appearances (28 starts) and 174 1/3 innings of work.
In her first full regular season at Nebraska, Bahl has put together a National Player of the Year resume, both at the plate and inside the circle. At the plate, Bahl hit .458 in the regular season while becoming the first Husker to record at least 15 doubles and 15 home runs in the same season.
In the circle, Bahl posted the lowest ERA in the Big Ten of 1.57 in 174 1/3 innings while also leading the league and ranking in the top 10 nationally in strikeouts (254) and opponent batting average (.156).
On May 9, the Big Ten named Bahl the conference's player and pitcher of the year, the first time in Big Ten history that a player took home both awards in the same season. As noted in the Big Ten's news release, Bahl joins Michigan's Sara Griffin and Nikki Nemitz and Minnesota's Sara Groenewegen as one of four players in the conference's history to earn both honors in their careers.
"Coming home and playing in Nebraska has been just the dream," Bahl said in a different pre-recorded interview that was featured in the Big Ten's clip announcing her awards. "Way more special than I could have ever imagined."
REQUIRED READING: Who will make Women's College World Series? NCAA softball tournament picks, predictions
Jordy Bahl transfer from Oklahoma to Nebraska
After winning two national championships at Oklahoma, which included being named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 WCWS, Bahl announced she was leaving the Sooners program after her sophomore season — a transfer that shocked the sport.
Bahl announced her decision to transfer to Nebraska on June 16, 2023, citing homesickness as the catalyst for her decision to return to the Cornhusker State to play at Nebraska and in the Big Ten.
"I am excited to return home and be Jordy Bahl the softball player, but more importantly the person," Bahl wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Jordy Bahl stats
Here's a year-by-year breakdown of Bahl's career stats at both Oklahoma and Nebraska:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
11 minutes ago
- USA Today
James Franklin focused on Penn State's big goals, not hype, in 2025
Will Penn State live up to the hype in 2025? James Franklin embraces the challenge. As Penn State head coach James Franklin approached the microphone for his annual round at the podium for Big Ten football media day on Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas, he did so with the eyes of the college football world on him like never before. Penn State arrived at Big Ten media day with many around the nation considering the Nittany Lions a top threat in the conference, and perhaps more. That rising pressure was not lost on the head coach of the program, who is no stranger to talking about his position being under pressure in the big moments during his career at Penn State. "There's a ton of conversations that are happening nationally. We embrace that," Franklin said to the media at the annual Big Ten football media day event, referring to the offseason talk placing high expectations on Penn State. "We've earned that based on what we've been able to do and what we've got coming back. There's a lot of people that are excited on a national level talking about us." Penn State returns a roster with an experienced starting quarterback (Drew Allar), a dynamic running back duo (Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen), a talented defense under a new high profile defensive coordinator, and a wide receiver unit boosted by additions form the transfer portal to help the one biggest concern on the roster coming off the 2024 season. Penn State played for a Big Ten championship and reached the College Football Playoff semifinal, and was as close to playing for a national title as they have been under Franklin to this point. "We had what a lot of people would consider a really good season last year," Franklin said. "We were a game away from playing for the National Championship, and you could actually make the argument a drive away from playing for the National Championship, but it didn't feel that way, right? Because the expectations at Penn State are really high." Penn State has been appearing at the top of many preseason rankings and polls this offseason despite not being the defending Big Ten champion (Oregon) or the reigning national champion (Ohio State). Penn State faces both of those teams in the 2025 season and lost to both last season. But Franklin is not wasting time worrying about the preseason hype train running at full steam. "It's a great conversation, but who really cares about preseason rankings? They mean nothing," Franklin said. "It's a good argument to have and everybody has fun with it, but the only rankings that matter are the ones that happen at the end of the season, and that's what we're concerned about. The only way we'll do that is by handling our business today." Penn State begins its season at home on Aug. 30 with a home game against Nevada. View the full 2025 Penn State football schedule and updated kickoff times. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.
USA Today
11 minutes ago
- USA Today
Four early-enrollee freshman that should make big contribution to Texas Longhorns
For a good team like Texas to win the national title, or the SEC title for that matter, some members of the freshman class are going to have to step up and be an impactful part of the team. Last year, saw wide receiver Ryan Wingo and defensive end Colin Simmons make big contributions to the Longhorns run to the college football playoff semifinal in the Cotton Bowl. The in-coming class was the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation for the 2025 cycle. So there should be some true blue chip prospects ready to challenge for playing time. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian does a good job or giving freshman a chance and working them into the lineup when he thinks they will help. There are some positions that are more likely to need freshman to chip in. Positions that have a lot of rotation, like defensive line, wide receiver and the defensive backfield, are areas where substitution is needed to keep the everyone fresh. Or, for the defensive backs, adapting personnel to fit changing formations by the opponent. The early enrollees should have a leg up on the Texas players that are just getting to campus this summer. Each early enrollee had the unique benefit of an entire spring to practice with the team and familiarize themselves with the Texas way. Here are four early-enrollee freshmen that could have a big impact this year: 1. Justus Terry - DL It was a huge recruiting coup when the Horns signed Terry. Texas wrestled him away from his home state of Georgia. After signing day, Terry said it was the NIL package that landed him in Austin. Whatever the case, Terry has been on campus since January and even took part in some bowl practices with the team last season. He should be depth in the interior of the defensive line to start and could easily work his way into a larger role down the stretch. 2. Michael Terry III - WR Terry III was also a huge late addition to the 2025 class. The five-star played many positions in high school, but Sark wants Terry to master one position on the 40 Acres before branching out. Right now, Terry is taking reps at receiver. "We've really got him honed in on receiver right now. And you see real flashes of the physical ability that he has. When you're a jack of all trades, like he was in high school, we're trying to get him to be a master of one first." - Steve Sarkisian on Michael Terry III Look for the former Alamo Heights all-purpose back to get some snaps at receiver. If he makes some plays, he'll get more and more. 3. Jonah Williams - S Jonah Williams has already had an impact on campus. Williams enrolled early, but he joined the baseball team and worked his way into a starting role for a stretch during the heart of the SEC schedule. Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian told Williams to work with the football team when he could, but to go play baseball this spring. "I think that starts with Sark, Coach Sark. You know, I've coached plenty of football/baseball guys where either the football coach or the assistant football coach, the position coach, is in their ear, putting pressure on them saying, 'Hey, what are you doing over there? You need to be over here.' And Sark from Day 1 has been, 'Oh no man, he's a baseball player.' You know, for spring practice we're going to have to work through some things. But he's been super supportive and I think that clears Jonah's mind where he can be all-in as a baseball player. We love having him around and hope that he can help us this year." - Texas Longhorns baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle Williams showed off his superior athletic ability and his desire to push his team to a win. He should be getting a lot of snaps in the defensive backfield by mid-season. 4. Jaime Ffrench - WR Ffrench is another early enrollee at wide receiver. The freshman that got to go through quarterback Arch Manning's first spring as started was a unique opportunity. While Manning gained some familiarity some some receivers last year, for the most part it is a clean slate. If a freshman becomes a favored target of QB1's then he'll get more playing time. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Florida native was highly ranked. From an athletic standpoint, he should be one of the most gifted wide outs on the roster. Ffrench is considered a good route runner with good hands. UT lost two receivers to the NFL Draft, which is another reason Ffrench will have an opportunity.
USA Today
28 minutes ago
- USA Today
Will Caitlin Clark play tomorrow? Indiana Fever update injury status
Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark continues to battle the injury bug in 2025. A right groin injury has sidelined Clark for each of the Fever's past two contests and for the 3-Point Contest and WNBA All-Star Game. In its latest injury update, the Fever revealed that Clark has been officially ruled out of Thursday night's contest against the Las Vegas Aces. Clark's absence against the Aces will mark her 12th regular season game that she's missed due to injury in 2025. Including the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final against Minnesota, it's now 13 games that Clark has been sidelined with injury. Earlier this season, Clark had separate lengthy absences as she worked to recover from left quadriceps and left groin injuries. The 6-foot Fever guard missed five games from May 28-June 10 with a left quadriceps injury. Clark missed five more games with a left groin injury from June 26-July 5. The second-year pro's right groin injury sidelined her for the final game before the WNBA All-Star break and now for each of the first two contests after the break. Fever head coach Stephanie White said on Tuesday that there's no timeline for Clark to return. White also revealed that Clark met with another doctor on Tuesday morning. "Yeah, I mean, certainly unfortunate and I feel like there's been quite a few injuries over the course of the beginning of the season for quite a few people... "I mean, I'm not going to say I've just been getting around-the-clock treatment. I've been still trying to enjoy this weekend, having a balance of that at the same time, and soaking all of this in. Once tomorrow comes around, we'll completely shift my focus to getting as healthy as possible. Just prioritizing that (recovery), but also having a good time has been important for myself too," Clark said on Saturday before the WNBA All-Star Game as she updated her injury recovery. Clark is averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game on 36.7% field goal shooting and 27.9% 3-point accuracy. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
