Jordy Bahl dominated in her first NCAA Tournament game as a Husker, throwing three no-hit innings in the circle while clubbing two home runs to lead Nebraska to a 10-2, six-inning victory over UConn Friday in the first round of the NCAA Regionals in Baton Rouge, La.
Bahl drew two walks and hit two home runs in her first four plate appearances in the NCAA Tournament, driving in a career-high-tying five runs. She also extended her personal shutout streak in NCAA competition to 31.1 innings pitched, dating back to Bahl’s run to the national championship as a member of Oklahoma in 2023.
Bahl drove in the Cornhuskers’ (40-13) first run of the game with a bases loaded walk. Two batters later, Ava Kuszak drove in a run with a ground out. With runners at second and third and two out, Olivia DiNardo hit a grounder to first that was mishandled by UConn first baseman Kaiea Higa. Two runs scored and Nebraska’s lead grew to four.
Then in the bottom of the third, Abbie Squier drew a walk then Bella Bacon was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Bahl lined a home run to center, her 20th of the season, making the fourth player in college softball history to hit 20 home runs and earn 20 pitching wins in the same season. The longball pushed Nebraska’s lead to seven.
A two-run home run by Cat Pettys off Kylie Magee got the Huskies on the board in the fourth. But in the bottom of the fifth, Bahl lined a two-out solo home run to center to bolster the Huskers’ lead to 8-2. It was Nebraska’s 100th home run of the season, making NU the fourth Big Ten team to hit 100 home runs in a season.
The Huskers finished off the Huskies in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Squier reached on an infield single. She moved to second when Bacon drew a walk. Squier scored and Bacon moved to second on an Ava Bredwell RBI single to left. With Bahl at the plate, Bacon moved to third on a wild pitch then scored on a wild pitch to seal the mercy rule victory, the 24th of the season for the Huskers.
Magee (8-4) earned the win for Nebraska, throwing the final three innings while allowing two earned runs. Peyton Kinney (15-6) took the loss, surrendering four earned runs in an inning of work.
The Huskers advance to the winner’s bracket semifinal. They’ll take on Southeastern Louisiana at noon Saturday. The Lady Lions upset No. 10 national seed LSU 4-3. Pregame coverage begins at 11:45 a.m. on 105.3 The Bone.