No. 18 Nebraska softball run-ruled by No. 7 Washington after Jordy Bahl goes down in Husker debut
No. 18 Nebraska softball did not start its highly-anticipated 2024 season as anyone had hoped. No. 7 Washington dominated the Huskers 8-0, run-ruling them in the top of the fifth inning in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
However, the biggest concern for Nebraska is the status of star pitcher Jordy Bahl. Bahl pitched two innings before landing awkwardly on her ankle directly after a pitch in the third. The two-time National Champion was helped into the dugout while putting weight on her right leg.
Nebraska struggled to find its groove with and without Bahl in the circle. NU’s offense was flat as catcher Ava Bredwell had their only two hits of the evening. Washington pitcher Ruby Meylan allowed two hits and recorded three strikeouts in five innings.
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Bahl pitched 2.1 innings and senior Sarah Harness finished the last 1.2 innings. Harness allowed two hits and two runs. Freshman Caitlin Olensky came in immediately after Bahl and gave up a three-run homer and an RBI single.
Nebraska softball hopes to bounce back in its double-header on Feb. 9. NU takes on No. 11 Duke at 12:30 p.m. CT and then follows it up with a battle vs. Long Beach State at 3:00 p.m. The Huskers finish the Puerto Vallarta Challenge vs. Utah Valley at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 10.
Bahl started off her Husker career at the plate. She batted second for NU and drew a walk. The Oklahoma transfer showed off her speed by stealing second. Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said Bahl is the fastest player on her team.
Her first batter put up a battle. After 10 pitches, Brooklyn Carter struck out swinging after hitting over roughly seven foul balls.
After back-to-back strikeouts, Bahl walked two straight batters. Third baseman Sydney Gray tracked down and caught a foul ball to end the first inning with two players on base.
Catcher Ava Bredwell earned the Huskers’ first hit of the game in the top of the second. Her hit broke through the middle for a single. But she was stranded on base after second baseman Katelyn Caneda and left fielder Caitlynn Neal were called out.
Washington stuck first and took advantage of two walks by Bahl in the bottom of the second. Alana Johnson, the leadoff hitter in the second, was walked and then stole her way to third base. Freshman Jadyn Glad hit a single up the middle for Johnson to score.
Nebraska softball was derailed in the bottom of the third. Bahl went down with an apparent ankle injury as she twisted it on a pitch. She was helped into the dugout.
Freshman lefty Caitlin Olensky came in and gave up two hits and four runs in her first two batters of her Nebraska career. Glab crushed a three-RBI home run to center field to give Washington a 6-0 lead. Senior right-handed pitcher Sarah Harness came in and retired the next two batters to end the inning.
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Washington’s Alana Johnson drilled a pitch to center field for a two-RBI double. The Huskies went up 8-0 in the bottom of the fourth. NU needed to score in the top of the fifth to extend the game but their offense continued to trend of the evening.
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While Nebraska’s pitching struggled, UW right-handed pitcher Ruby Meylan got better and better. The sophomore pitched five innings and allowed two hits and zero runs. Meylan, an Omaha Skutt Catholic product, pitched her ninth shutout as a Huskie.
Washington’s firepower at the plate, a great pitcher in the circle and fast, smart defense proved why they are ranked in the top 10 nationally.
Jordy Bahl leaves Nebraska debut injured
The biggest story coming out of this game is the injury status of Bahl.
The junior All-American suffered what appeared to be an ankle injury. Bahl slipped in the dirt or her cleat caught in the clay. She fell hard and was assisted into the dugout. The No. 2 player in the country did not return.
Bahl’s teammates instantly felt the loss of her presence on the field. The weight of an injury for NU’s starting pitcher felt heavy on their shoulders. At least, that’s how they played.
After Bahl’s injury, Nebraska immediately let up four runs within the next two batters.
Harness, an experienced player, couldn’t find a consistent strike zone in the last two innings. She walked three of the 10 batters she faced.
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This start was not what Nebraska fans hoped for Bahl, even outside of her injury. After striking out her first two hitters, Bahl struggled in the back half of the first inning. She walked two batters and then Gray caught a foul ball to bail her out.
She walked four batters, had three strikeouts and allowed three hits.
The Papillion, Neb. native is a great pitcher with a great command of the ball. Her command was spotty against Washington, but she threw many great pitches. Bahl also brings power and speed to NU’s batting lineup.
Bahl is a critical part of Nebraska softball reaching its goal of returning to the WCWS and winning the Big Ten this season.
The Huskers need to bounce back strong about No. 11 Duke on Friday. They need to find rhythm in the circle and at the plate. Nebraska still has the whole season ahead of them, and the future is still bright.
