Oklahoma's Jordy Bahl, Kenzie Hansen discuss Bahl's clutch baserunning in Game 1 vs. FSU

Oklahoma opened up the championship series of the Women’s College World Series against Florida State by doing what they’ve done all year: dominated both sides of play in a blowout win. On Wednesday evening, the Sooners made 51 wins in a row 52 by besting the Seminoles 5-0 in a ballgame that actually had OU fans a little nervous when both clubs were scoreless through 3.5 innings.

Of course, that changed and the Sooner bats woke up to bang in runs in their last three batting opportunities, scoring two in the bottom of the fourth and one more each in the fifth and sixth innings before the defense closed things out in the top of the seventh.

That closer, also the starter, was Jordy Bahl, Oklahoma’s sorceress at the mound. She ended the game with seven full innings pitched, no runs given up, just two hits allowed, 10 strikeouts and her 22nd win of the season. Plus, she also pinch ran in the fifth inning.

After the game and another standout performance from Bahl on the mound, all folks wanted to ask about was her pinch running. You just don’t see pitchers sub in to pinch run in softball or baseball at any level very often.

“I think base running is really fun,” Bahl said afterward before explaining her thought process on the base path. “So when I went out there, I was thinking…just be fast but be smart. Get a good jump. If the ball is in the dirt, you’re going, but get a good jump.”

And when Kenzie Hansen put bat on ball, the other Bahl was ready to fly.

“I saw the ball off Hansen’s bat. Knowing where the outfielders were, it was going to get through. I was able to get a good jump and run. Hansen put a great swing on a great pitch and it all just worked out.”

Bahl went on to score off that double to the left field gap off of Hansen’s bat, rounding three bases to put Oklahoma on the board for the first time in the championship series. According to the owner of that RBI, Kenzie Hansen, she knew Bahl would get home if she landed one into the gap.

“Yeah, when Jordy went in to pinch run, in my mind I was like…if I get the ball in the gap, we’re going to be 1-0. Jordy has wheels. She runs circles around us at practice sometimes. She strikes us out, too. It’s all over the place.

It all worked out. Hansen smacked a double into left and Jordy Bahl made it worthwhile by wind-sprinting to home to change the tide of the game. Seriously, is there anything Jordy Bahl can’t do? What an athlete.