Jordy Bahl launches first career home run in season opener, return from torn ACL

For the first time since tearing her ACL in last year’s opening series, Jordy Bahl returned to the diamond for Nebraska. She made quite an impact in Thursday’s season opener, too.

Bahl launched her first career home run to left-field – a two-run shot to make it a 5-1 Nebraska lead over Tennessee. That added to a dominant showing in the circle as she begins her second season with the Cornhuskers, although last year was cut well short due to the devastating injury.

It’s safe to say, Bahl will remember her return. She entered Thursday with 40 career at-bats, but never hit one over the fence. That changed in Clearwater as part of the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

She hit it out of the park AND the frame!!@jordybahl adds two more to the board with a homer to LF 💥

M5 | Huskers lead 5-1 pic.twitter.com/SmcunYduQq

— Nebraska Softball (@HuskerSoftball) February 7, 2025

Bahl threw a complete game Thursday night in her return to action. She struck out seven Tennessee hitters and allowed just one run as Nebraska came away with a 7-1 victory to open the 2025 campaign.

More on Jordy Bahl’s return to Nebraska

It’s been 364 days since Bahl tore her ACL in just her first game with Nebraska after transferring from Oklahoma. The Papillion native arrived hoping to supercharge the Cornhuskers as she came back to her home state, but things came to an abrupt halt.

However, Bahl promised to come back stronger. She quickly announced she’d be back at Nebraska for 2025 after the injury. Able to take a redshirt in 2024, she will have two years of eligibility remaining.

“In game one of opening weekend in Puerto Vallarta, I experienced an injury to my ACL that is going to cause me to support the Red Team in a different way than anticipated for the 2024 season,” Bahl said on Instagram.

“With a heart thankful for God’s plan and timing, I will be redshirting this year and looking forward to a season of growth and learning from a different point of view. I’m thankful for the support of my family, friends, coaches and staff. I’m truly blessed to have so many wonderful and loving people in my life.”

Bahl transferred to Nebraska from Oklahoma, where she put together two seasons as a standout pitcher for the Sooners and helped them to back-to-back national championships. She entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season and returned home to Nebraska for her junior season.

During her time at Oklahoma, Bahl won at least a share of the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year award in both seasons, and she earned conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2022. On the whole, she amassed a 44-2 record in the circle as a Sooner to go with 397 career strikeouts and a 0.97 ERA.