Oklahoma is back in the WCWS championship series for the fourth time in as many years and is aiming for an unprecedented four-peat.
Patty Gasso has once again built a well-rounded team in Norman, and the team’s pitching staff is certainly a strength. Kelly Maxwell has been the team’s ace while Kierston Deal and Nicole May have provided rock-solid depth behind her.
There is, however, one pitcher missing from Oklahoma’s squad who many will remember from previous WCWS appearances: Jordy Bahl.
Bahl starred for two seasons at Oklahoma. She earned All-American nods during her first season in 2022 and established herself as one of the top, up-and-coming pitchers in the sport.
What was her encore? In 2023, Bahl led the Sooners to another championship, winning the WCWS’ Most Outstanding Player award after posting a 4-0 record with one save in 24 2/3 scoreless innings during the championship event.
But where is Bahl now? No longer does she don the Sooner colors. Instead, she plays closer to home where she is hoping to re-establish herself as one of college softball’s best pitchers.
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What happened to Jordy Bahl?
Bahl transferred to Nebraska after the completion of her sophomore year at Oklahoma. She grew up in Papillion, Nebraska, so the move was a homecoming of sorts for her.
Bahl’s first season with the Cornhuskers didn’t go as planned. She suffered a torn ACL in her left year during Nebraska’s first game, against Washington. She was ruled out for the remainder of the season and redshirted because of the injury.
Before getting hurt, Bahl pitched just 2 1/3 innings while allowing three runs on two hits and four walks with three strikeouts. The 21-year-old is expected to be Nebraska’s ace if she returns to the hill in 2025.
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Why did Jordy Bahl transfer?
Bahl transferred from Oklahoma to Nebraska because she wanted to be closer to home. She announced the decision in a social media post and referred to the decision as “bittersweet.”
“Nothing will compare to what this year and this team have been. From staring defeat in the eyes and never giving in, the behind the scenes grind, handling the mounting pressure that only grows each year, only the girls on this team will ever be able to fully understand,” Ball said.
“That is why this is such a bittersweet thing to do,” she continued. “I have decided to return home and play the game I love, closer to the things that have made me who I am and that have always been more important to me than this game.
“The most important thing in my life after my faith, is my family. For the last two years, despite the amazing opportunities and accomplishments, my love for home and the acknowledgment of my foundation have grown. Being away from these things has been very tough. Through the constant battles that the outsiders do not see, my teammates and coaches were always understanding, loving, and nothing but supportive. The bond developed with these girls can never, and will never be broken.”
❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/6OBFmG5VEE
— Jordyn Bahl (@jordybahl) June 12, 2023
Bahl’s return home also came with an exciting opportunity for her. She expressed excitement about growing the game in Nebraska, which she believes is an untapped softball market.
I am exciting thinking about growing the game that has provided me so many opportunities for growth, in the home state, currently overlooked state for girls in softball at all ages, and I am excited to finish the softball journey right where it began.
Patty Gasso and the Oklahoma staff expressed near-unanimous praise for the move and credited Bahl for doing what she needed to do to take care of herself.
“Jordy shared with our staff on Friday that she has been feeling a strong need to be closer to home for quite some time and that she planned to enter the transfer portal,” Gasso said in a statement, per Sports Illustrated. “It was a very candid and emotional conversation in which we both communicated our love and appreciation for each other.
“We are grateful for her two years with our program and for everything she accomplished. She obviously was a huge part of our on-field success, but what I’ll always appreciate most about Jordy is her approach and dedication to the game, and she’s the ultimate competitor.
“We’re understanding of her situation and certainly want her to be the happiest she can be. We are supportive of her and she will always be part of the OU Softball family.”
Gasso’s words were unsurprisingly class. They were also 100 percent warranted considering how Bahl performed during her brief, two-year stint with the Sooners.
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Jordy Bahl stats
Bahl has posted a near-pristine record of 44-3 during her college softball career. She has never lost more than one game in a season and won 22 contests in each of her first two seasons at Oklahoma.
Below is a look at Bahl’s stats by season across her three-year college career.
| Year | Team | Record | Innings | ERA | WHIP | Strikeouts | Saves |
| 2022 | Oklahoma | 22-1 | 141 1/3 | 1.09 | 0.74 | 205 | 1 |
| 2023 | Oklahoma | 22-1 | 147 1/3 | 0.90 | 0.80 | 192 | 4 |
| 2024 | Nebraska | 0-1 | 2 1/3 | 9.00 | 2.57 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | — | 44-3 | 291 | 1.06 | 0.79 | 400 | 5 |
Obviously, Bahl’s ACL tear derailed her 2024 season. She got a redshirt for that campaign, however, so she still has two seasons of eligibility should she decide to use them.
Nebraska hopes she can return in good form for the 2025 season. If she does, the Cornhuskers could suddenly become a viable threat and a potential tough out in the WCWS bracket.
