The transfer portal has opened the door for more player movement than ever before, and the Oklahoma Sooners have benefitted greatly from the portal. Whether it’s their Heisman-winning quarterbacks or the additions on the diamond, the Sooners have welcomed a lot of talent through the portal over the years.
Well, Monday marked arguably the University of Oklahoma’s biggest loss to the portal in star pitcher Jordy Bahl. Bahl announced via social media that she was entering the portal. Citing a desire to be close to family and raise the profile of softball in the state of Nebraska, Bahl is heading home.
Though she was in Norman for just two years, her legacy is cemented as one of the greatest to ever grace Marita Hynes Field for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Jordy Bahl was one of the two best pitchers in the sport in 2023, and after her run in the NCAA tournament and after outdueling NiJaree Canady, it’s easy to argue that she was the best pitcher in softball. It’s just a bummer that her time in Norman has come to an end.
But her departure doesn’t negate the impact she made and the legend she created.
Not only was she really good at what she did, her passion and ferocity in the circle made for incredible television. Bahl made a habit of turning it up a notch when opponents had runners on base and threatened to score. Regularly, she would find a way to work out of a jam and keep the opposition off the board.
The last three months of the season saw one of the more dominant runs the sport has ever seen, as she allowed just five runs in more than 100 innings of work from March 14 to the end of the season. That includes allowing just one run in the NCAA tournament and blanking all comers in the Women’s College World Series.
Back in 2022, Bahl earned the NFCA Freshman of the Year, was a two-time All-Big 12 selection, two-time All-American, and two-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Year recipient. In her time with the Sooners, bahl threw a pair of perfect games. One in 2022 against Cal State Fullerton and one in 2023 against Southeastern Louisiana. In 2022, she set a freshman record for strikeouts with 16 against Tennessee.
In her two seasons, Bahl threw 26 complete games, 15 shutouts, and recorded 397 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .145 batting average in 2022 and .160 in 2023. She had a record of 44-2 in two seasons to help lead Oklahoma to national titles in both seasons in Norman.
Jordy Bahl’s departure will be felt. She was a beloved teammate. Simply go back and watch the embrace between Bahl and battery mate Kinzie Hansen when they clinched the national championship.
Look at the reactions from her teammates in the wake of her announcement on Twitter.
Current and former #Sooners teammates of Jordy Bahl wishing her well as she leaves Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/DJPxhSV6hK
— Summer of George (@GeorgeStoia) June 12, 2023
She did great things at Oklahoma and will no doubt do great things at her next landing spot. Jordy Bahl’s mark on the sport of softball is indelible. Whatever the future holds, she’ll have left a lasting impression in Norman and in the sport of softball with the passion and joy that she plays with.
Here’s a look back at some of the best photos of Jordy Bahl’s time with the Oklahoma Sooners.