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Kiki Milloy reveals what makes facing Jordy Bahl so difficult

PeterWarrenPhoto2by:Peter Warren•06/04/23•

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Copy of Copy of On3-Matt-Zenitz-don-meyer-leadership (10)
Oklahoma's Jordy Bahl (98) celebrates a strike out during the NCAA Norman Super Regional softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Clemson Tigers at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla., Friday, May, 26, 2023. SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN

Tennessee outfielder Kiki Milloy has faced a lot of great pitchers over her college softball career. Oklahoma ace Jordy Bahl likely stands among the best.

Milloy doubled to off Bahl lead off the game Saturday against the Sooners. But that was the lone hit of the day for the Volunteers.

Defending champion Oklahoma run-ruled Tennessee to advance to the Women’s College World Series semifinals while the Volunteers are now up against elimination Sunday.

After the 9-0 loss to the Sooners, Milloy explained what makes Bahl such a good pitcher.

“I think just attacking the zone,” Milloy said. “But I think we could have had some better swings on her pitches that she might have left more on the white of the plate. It was good seeing her. If we see them again at the end of the tournament, we saw a lot of pitches, so…”

Milloy is one of the best hitters in the country this season, hitting .417 at the plate with 25 home runs, 56 RBI, 12 doubles, 85 runs scored and a .570 on-base percentage. Plus, she has stolen 39 bases in 40 attempts.

Her 25 homers and 85 runs scored lead Division I college softball while her on-base percentage ranks fifth.

But Bahl has been outstanding as well this season. Last year’s Freshman of the Year has a 20-1 record with a 1.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. She has struck out 173 hitters in 133.1 innings.

She has been the ace for an Oklahoma team has been putting on one of the most remarkable seasons in college softball history. The team has now won 50 straight games and have only one loss on the season.

If they win the national title, it would be the third in a row for the Sooners.

“I think just it started as a very diverse group, a lot of different backgrounds, different cultures,” Gasso said. “Almost unsure what it was going to blend like. They did such a significant effort into creating this culture that they really gravitated to, where I don’t know, if they found each other on the street, that they would all be best friends, but when you put them in a room and put softball in front of them, they’ve created this connection like nothing I’ve seen.”