Sooner shocker: OU softball's Jordy Bahl entering transfer portal

OU softball pitcher Jordy Bahl ended the 2023 season with a strikeout to give the Sooners the national championship.

Few knew it would be her final pitch as a Sooner. In a stunning move, Bahl announced she is leaving Oklahoma and entering the transfer portal.

This is one of the biggest portal moves ever, regardless of the sport. Bahl was simply dominant in helping OU win its third straight national championship. It’s her second title. Bahl is clearly one of the best players in the country and still had two years left in Norman.

Head coach Patty Gasso couldn’t have given more praise to the sophomore following the 3-1 win vs. Florida State last Thursday to sweep the championship series. Bahl was named the Most Outstanding Player at the Women’s College World Series.

Said Gasso: “Jordy Bahl is just an absolute complete athlete. Offense has been – I mean, we faced a few in this tournament, without question, that really challenged us.

“Jordy, my challenge for Jordy, is to try to make practice as competitive as I can constantly because she thrives. Jordy likes that kind of pressure at practice. So I’m always giving her, OK, bases are loaded, one out, you’re up by two. I’m always giving situations because I think she just really loves to simulate that.

“When she’s here, this is her playground. This is her heaven right here, at the World Series where it’s real and it’s someone else that we’re competing against.”

Bahl was 4-0 with a save in the WCWS. She didn’t allow a run in 24.2 innings. Bahl gave up 12 hits with just three walks and 33 strikeouts.

OU finished the season 61-1 and on a 53-game winning streak. As a matter of fact, Bahl had a hand in the final seven victories. She was 6-0 and concluded the season with the save vs. FSU.

The National Freshman of the Year in 2022, Bahl didn’t let up this season. She went 22-1 with four saves and a 0.90 ERA. She had 192 strikeouts in 147.1 innings.

Not used as a hitter a lot, Bahl did bat .406 this season with 13 runs scored. Funny enough, she scored more runs (2) in the WCWS than she allowed. Her teammates agreed Bahl was the fastest player on the team this season.

“I’m really just proud of this team for how we have stuck together this year,” said Bahl on Thursday night. “I think not a lot of other people would fully understand what it’s like to go through just the day to day from off-season during the summer to August, everything up until now. Everyone just sees what’s put on the field on game day.

“There’s a lot. I’m just proud of how we’ve stuck together through pressure, adversity, and just have ultimately been one strong, cohesive unit that has at the end of the day taken that pressure and giving the glory to the Lord and been able to still play free and play together and find joy in things outside of the playing field.”

OU’s four-person pitching staff is, just like that, now in half. The Sooners were already losing Alex Storako because her eligibility is up. The loss of Bahl is a massive blow. Her fire, passion and intensity were something that was infectious for the rest of the team.

The Sooners have benefited greatly from the transfer portal in recent years. There’s no doubt OU will, once again, do the same in the days and weeks ahead. But it begins on a very down note with Bahl’s sudden departure.

❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/6OBFmG5VEE

— Jordyn Bahl (@jordybahl) June 12, 2023

Minutes after Bahl’s announcement, Gasso released a statement:

“Jordy shared with our staff on Friday that she has been feeling a strong need to be closer to home for quite some time and that she planned to enter the transfer portal,” the release said. “It was a very candid and emotional conversation in which we both communicated our love and appreciation for each other. We are grateful for her two years with our program and for everything she accomplished.

“She obviously was a huge part of our on-field success, but what I’ll always appreciate most about Jordy is her approach and dedication to the game, as she’s the ultimate competitor. We’re understanding of her situation and certainly want her to be the happiest she can be. We are supportive of her and she will always be part of the OU Softball family.”