Tag: 2023 NCAA Softball Tournament

Jordy Bahl leaves Oklahoma with a lasting legacy in Norman and on the game

Jordy Bahl’s two years in Norman left a lasting impact on the Oklahoma Sooners and elevated softball to greater heights.

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.

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.

Oklahoma beats Tennessee 9-0 to advance to WCWS semifinals

Oklahoma Sooners beat Tennessee 9-0 after a great performance from Jordy Bahl and home runs from Tiare Jennings and Kinzie Hansen.

Oklahoma beat Tennessee 9-0 in run-rule fashion thanks to an all-around dominant performance by the Sooners. Oklahoma kept its record-breaking winning streak alive too, earning their 50th win in a row against the Volunteers.

Oklahoma failed to capitalize with the bases loaded in the first, but it didn’t take long for the offense to erupt.

Tiare Jennings got the Sooners going with a home run in the second that also brought in Grace Lyons and Jayda Coleman. With Jordy Bahl dealing, 3-0 might as well have been 9-0, but OU’s offense didn’t slow down.

Oklahoma’s offense exploded in the third inning. Kinzie Hansen hit a two- homer to left field to make the score 5-0. Then, Rylie Boone hit a triple that brought in Grace Lyons and Alynah Torres to make the score 7-0.

Rylie Boone and Jayda Coleman came around on a pair of Tennessee wild pitches. The Sooners had six runs and four hits in the third inning.

Jordy Bahl got her second-straight start and earned her 20th win of the season, lowering her ERA to 1.00 in 2023. Bahl allowed just one hit and one walk

Now, Oklahoma will have to lose back-to-back games to be denied its fourth-straight trip to the Women’s College World Series Championship. The Sooners will be back in action at 11 a.m. on Monday, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

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Kinzie Hansen, Sooners create magic in final game at Marita Hynes Field

Kinzie Hansen’s magical moment closed out the Oklahoma Sooners time at Marita Hynes Field and launched them into the Women’s College World Series.

This weekend, the Oklahoma Sooners said goodbye to Marita Hynes Field in the only way they knew how: with a bit of “Sooner Magic.”

They got things going with a pair of home runs to open the game. The back-to-back bombs from Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings seemed like it would set the stage for a Sooners rout, but Clemson had other plans.

Tigers’ starter Brooke McCubbin settled and kept Oklahoma from extending their lead until the fourth inning when Alyssa Brito’s home run and Sophia Nugent’s fielder’s choice RBI extended the lead to 4-0. At that point, it felt like the Sooners were going to run away with the game and into the Women’s College World Series.

But then the Tigers responded in kind with a three-run home run from Maddie Moore in the fourth and a two-run shot from McKenzie Clark to kickstart a five-run fifth that put Clemson up 7-4.

Those seven runs were the first time Oklahoma’s pitching staff had allowed five or more runs in 2023. That’s how good Jordy Bahl, Nicole May, Alex Storako and Kierston Deal had been this season.

After a scoreless sixth inning, it was looking like Oklahoma would be playing again on Sunday. But the Sooners had other plans.

Rylie Boone singled to start the top of the seventh and with two outs in the inning Haley Lee came through in the clutch to keep the inning alive. That’s when Kinzie Hansen provided the heroics to extend the game for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Her three-run home run was the magical moment the Sooners needed to pull off the victory and close their storied history at Marita Hynes Field with a win. But it wasn’t just any other win.

It was a record-setting 48th consecutive win. It was the win that propelled them to their seventh-straight Women’s College World Series. It was a win on Patty Gasso’s birthday. It was an emotional win over an up-and-coming program that’s seen a rapid ascent.

During a weekend in which Oklahoma Softball and its illustrious alumni remembered their time at Marita Hynes Field, Hansen, Tiare Jennings, and the Oklahoma Sooners created another incredible moment. A memory that will be imprinted on the hearts and minds of those on the field in crimson and those in Sooner Nation for years to come, even after Oklahoma’s selling out their new home at Love’s Field.

Power hitting paces the Oklahoma Sooners in win over Clemson

In the blink of an eye, the Oklahoma Sooners can put up a big inning like they did against Clemson in their 9-2 win over the Tigers.

One of the intriguing storylines to follow heading into the super regional matchup between Oklahoma and Clemson was how well the Tigers could keep the Sooners’ long ball in check.

Clemson’s pitching staff arrived in Norman allowing just 15 home runs all season long. Oklahoma had hit 104 home runs during the season. Something was going to give.

In game one, it was the Sooners’ power hitting that was the biggest difference in the game.

Even in the first inning, though they didn’t hit a home run, it was shots to the warning track that allowed Oklahoma to get on the board first. A leadoff double by [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] followed by back-to-back warning track sacrifice flies scored Coleman to put the Sooners up 1-0 in the early going.

Clemson had been making noise throughout the first four innings, though they’d yet to get to [autotag]Jordy Bahl[/autotag]. Clemson starter [autotag]Valerie Cagle[/autotag] held Oklahoma to just one hit through three innings and none after Coleman’s leadoff double.

In the bottom of the fourth, [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag] hit her third home run in as many games to give the Sooners a more comfortable 4-0 lead. That bomb was just an appetizer to the fifth inning feast Oklahoma would have at the plate.

The Tigers responded in the top of the fifth, finally pushing a couple of runs across the plate on Oklahoma’s ace.

But that seemed to awaken Oklahoma’s lineup in the bottom of the frame. Rylie Boone got the inning started with a bunt single down the first base line, and Coleman and [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] followed with back-to-back singles. Then came [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag] with the grand slam followed by [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag]’s bomb to give Oklahoma a commanding 9-2 lead.

And just like that, any chance Clemson had at stealing game one from the Sooners was gone.

That’s what the Sooners do. They can score in a hurry and they do so in an emphatic way. Just when Clemson had roared it’s way back into the game in the top of the fifth, the Sooners flipped a switch and shut the lights out on the Tigers.

That’s one of the reasons the Sooners are so hard to beat. They don’t have an easy out in the lineup, and they can erupt out of nowhere and put a big inning together to put games away like they did against Clemson on Friday.

Now the Sooners get set to take on the Tigers in game two to earn another Women’s College World Series berth and set a new record for consecutive wins. But in order to do that, they’ll need to find the same “pass the bat” mentality that’s carried them all year long.

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from Saturday’s 9-2 win over Clemson.

 

Oklahoma Sooners win 47th straight game in 9-2 victory over Clemson

The Oklahoma Sooners tied the all-time record for consecutive wins with their 9-2 win over the Clemson Tigers.

Oklahoma shrugged off a slow start to beat Clemson 9-2 in the first game of the Norman Super Regionals. The Sooners tied the all-time NCAA softball winning streak at 47 games in a row, which was previously held by the 1996-97 Arizona Wildcats. The Sooners are now 55-1 on the year.

To start the game, Clemson didn’t do much and only got one hit in the first inning. Haley Lee then helped Oklahoma with a sac-fly that brought in Jayda Coleman to make the score 1-0 after one inning.

In the second, the Sooners took advantage of a Clemson error to extend their lead to 2-0. While Oklahoma was leading, Clemson’s Valerie Cagle was keeping the Sooners’ bats in check for the most part.

In the fourth, Cydney Sanders broke the game wide open. for the Sooners with a two-run home run to make the score 4-0. It was the third straight game with a home run for Sanders, who now has seven on the season.

The game got interesting again in the top of the fifth.

Clemson scored two runs thanks to a double by Caroline Jacobsen that scored McKenzie Clark and Ansley Houston. The Tigers had been getting to Jordy Bahl throughout the contest but finally broke through to give the Sooners a scare.

Staying steady, Oklahoma pulled away for good in the bottom of the fifth. Rylie Boone got the inning going with a leadoff bunt single. Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings followed suit with singles of their own to load the bases. Haley Lee then came to the plate. After working a 3-1 count, Lee went deep to center for a grand slam and an 8-2 lead.

Alyssa Brito provided the exclamation point in the game with her 15th home run of the season to make it 9-2.

The sixth and seventh innings were very quiet with neither team getting a hit the rest of the game.

Jordy Bahl started the game for the Sooners with 5.1 innings pitched. She allowed eight hits, two runs and had six strikeouts. She battled throughout the game, stranding Clemson runners in the first three innings. Bahl moved to 17-1 on the season. Alex Storako provided 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to close the game for Oklahoma.

National Player of the Year finalist, Valerie Cagle, had a strong start to the game. And despite the two runs allowed in the first two innings, she limited the Sooners lineup from making more noise until the fourth and fifth. Cagle pitched four innings and allowed eight runs on seven hits and had two strikeouts in the game.

Oklahoma and Clemson will meet again in the second game of the Norman Super Regional on Saturday at 12 p.m. An Oklahoma win would send the Sooners to the WCWS, while the Tigers need a win to stay alive in the NCAA Tournament.

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Clemson’s Valerie Cagle provides significant test for Oklahoma Sooners

As the Sooners get set to face Clemson, Oklahoma will face one of the best players in college softball, Valerie Cagle.

There was a great deal said about the Oklahoma Sooners who did not make the top three for the USA Softball National Player of the Year honor. Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings and Jordy Bahl were finalists (top 10) but missed the cut.

One of the players who made the shortlist is Clemson’s Valerie Cagle. Cagle is tied for seventh in the nation with 19 home runs and tied for 18th in RBIs. Her .467 batting average is fifth in college softball.

She put together an incredible season at the plate. She also has been Clemson’s best pitcher in 2023. Her 25 wins are tied for eighth, and her 1.20 ERA is 11th in the country.

She’s a two-time ACC player of the year and was the conference’s freshman of the year in 2021. According to our friends over at Clemson Wire, she’s had 23 multiple-hit and 16 multiple RBI games in 2023.

She has been a do-it-all force for the Clemson Tigers. The Oklahoma Sooners will have quite the task to keep her contained at the plate and getting to a pitcher that’s only allowed a .174 batting average across 660 at-bats.

As the Sooners look to extend their nation-best 46-game winning streak, they’ll face a stiff test from one of the best players in the nation.

The Oklahoma Sooners and Clemson Tigers will begin their super regional showdown on Friday, May 26, at 1 p.m. CT in Norman. The game can be viewed on ESPN2.

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No. 1 Oklahoma vs No. 16 Clemson: how to watch, weekend preview, key players

No. 1 Oklahoma vs No. 16 Clemson: how to watch, weekend preview, key players. Can Clemson end the Oklahoma incredible run?

Oklahoma (54-1) has been the most dominant team in softball this year. The Sooners are riding a 46-game winning streak and can break the record for the longest winning streak in college softball this weekend.

Oklahoma’s offense exploded in the Norman Regional, outscoring its opponents 38-3. None of the games against Hofstra, Missouri and California was remotely close.

Clemson got here after it beat UNC Greensboro, 17-2, in the opener before beating Auburn, 7-0, to advance to the regional finals. In the final, Auburn forced a winner-take-all game with a 5-2 win, but the Clemson Tigers bounced back to advance with a 5-1 win.

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Game times announced for the Norman Super Regionals between Oklahoma and Clemson

Game times announced for the Super Regionals between Oklahoma and Clemson.

Oklahoma has its next opponent: The Clemson Tigers visit the Sooners in the super regionals of the NCAA Softball Tournament. The Sooners play the Tigers on Friday, May 26 at 1 p.m. CT and Saturday May 27 at noon CT. If necessary, the two sides would play on Sunday, but that time is still to be determined.

Oklahoma dominated its regional, outscoring Hofstra, Missouri and California 38-3. It looked every bit the national title favorite this weekend in Norman.

Clemson has had a great year and has been very good in the tournament. It dominated UNC Greensboro, 17-2, and won two of three games against against Auburn to survive.

Clemson is a very talented team and should challenge Oklahoma. The Tigers boast the No. 14 scoring offense, averaging 6.13 runs per game in 2023. Their 1.35 team ERA is second in the nation only to Oklahoma, which has an 0.80 ERA. The Sooners have been a juggernaut, and the Tigers play in a tough ACC, so they’ll be battle tested.

The winner will advance to the Women’s College World Series.

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NCAA Tournament super regionals set after a wild weekend of college softball

A look at the super regional matchups, which includes the Oklahoma Sooners welcoming the Clemson Tigers to Norman.

The first weekend of the NCAA Tournament was fantastic. There were a pair of big-time upsets, fantastic back-and-forth action and most of the top softball teams advanced to what should be a great slate of super regional action next weekend.

There were big offensive outbursts and even a perfect game in a winner-take-all matchup on Sunday afternoon that highlighted a fabulous weekend for the sport of collegiate softball.

Three of the top 16 went home early. No. 2 UCLA, No. 10 LSU, and No. 11 Arkansas were unable to make home field hold up, and were sent home early. UCLA didn’t even get a chance to play Los Angeles Regional winner San Diego State because the Bruins were beaten by Grand Canyon and Liberty before the regional final.

With one more leg before the Women’s College World Series, here’s a look at each of the super regionals and what those teams had to do to advance.

Oklahoma Sooners advance to super regionals with 16-3 win over Cal

The Oklahoma Sooners advance to the super regional round of the NCAA tournament after a 16-3 win over California.

Oklahoma’s offense got going right out of the gate and didn’t look back as they dominated the California Golden Bears 16-3 in five innings. The Sooners hit six home runs in the game, extending their winning streak to 46 games.

[autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] got the scoring going in the first inning when she launched a homer to make it 1-0. [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag] doubled, and [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag] hit a home run to put Oklahoma up 3-0. [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] singled, and [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag] smashed a home run to extend the lead to 5-0. Jocelyn Erickson went back-to-back with Sanders with a solo shot to put the Sooners up 6-0 in the top of the first.

Jennings hit her second home run of the day in the top of the second to give the Sooners a 7-0 lead.

They kept the scoring going in the third inning. Rylie Boone brought in Hansen on an RBI single to make it 8-0 and put Oklahoma in run-rule territory. Coleman doubled to score Grace Lyons on an RBI, which made it 9-0. Jennings drove a double of her own to score Boone and Coleman and put the Sooners well out in front 11-0. Not to be outdone by Tiare Jennings, Alyssa Brito hammered her second home run of the day, a three-run shot to give Oklahoma a 14-0 lead after three.

Cal scored three runs on three hits in the third after loading the bases. Alex Storako wasn’t her sharp self, and Nicole May came in to limit the damage.

In the fourth inning, Grace Lyons hit a sacrifice fly that brought home Alynah Torres to make the score 15-3. Quincee Lilio then singled to right center and to score Jocelyn Erickson to extend the lead 16-3.

May was able to get the shutdown inning in the fourth inning before giving way to Kierston Deal who pitched a scoreless fifth.

Storako allowed five hits and three runs in 2.2 innings pitched. May and Deal combined to throw three innings of perfect ball, keeping the Golden Bears off the base paths once May entered the game.

Tiare Jennings went 4-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs, and three runs scored. Brito was 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs. Haley Lee, Kinzie Hansen, and Jocelyn Erickson each had multi-hit games for the Sooners.

Oklahoma will now welcome Clemson for their three-game series in the super regional after the Tigers beat Auburn in a winner-take-all game Sunday afternoon. The Sooners’ 13 straight super regional appearances is the longest own the longest streak in the nation

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