After a dominant NCAA Regional both at the plate and in the circle, Nebraska junior pitcher Jordy Bahl was named one of three finalists for the USA Softball National Player of the Year. Bahl, Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady and Arkansas first baseman Bri Ellis are the final three candidates for college softball’s most outstanding player of the year. The honor will be awarded Tuesday, May 27, just before the Women’s College World Series.
Bahl was 5-for-5 with four home runs and seven walks at the plate as the Huskers rolled through the Baton Rouge regional and onto a Super Regional matchup with No. 7 national seed Tennessee this weekend. Bahl also starred in the circle, pitching in all three wins and earning the win in two of them. She allowed just one earned run in 12 innings pitched. Against Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday, Bahl threw six innings of one-hit ball, striking out 10. On the season, Bahl is 25-6 with a 1.50 era. In 186.1 innings pitched, she has struck out 270 batters and walked 72. At the plate, Bahl has hit a school record 23 home runs while driving in 66 runs and hitting .475, which would set a new school record by 57 points.