Bahl Named Top Three Finalist for Freshman of the Year

NORMAN — Oklahoma softball freshman Jordy Bahl has been named one of three finalists for the 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award, the NFCA announced the three finalists Thursday.

Bahl was joined by Virginia Tech's Emma Lemley and Arizona State's Cydney Sanders as finalists.

The freshman phenom, Bahl, has taken college softball by storm in her first-year campaign with the Sooners. In 132.1 innings pitched, Bahl holds a 0.95 ERA with 199 strikeouts to 29 walks. Her earned run average ranks fifth in the country. She has allowed just 18 earned runs on the season (23 runs total) and is allowing opponents to bat just .137. Bahl has surrendered 16 extra-base hits, with only three being home runs.

In conference play, Bahl held a 1.30 ERA in 53.2 IP to go with 71 strikeouts to 13 walks. She surrendered nine extra-base hits in Big 12 play, and no homers for a .157 opponent BA.

A Sooner has won the award three times in its eight-year history: Paige Parker (2015), Jocelyn Alo (2018) and Tiare Jennings (2021). Last season OU had two of the final three finalists for the award in eventual-winner Tiare Jennings and classmate Jayda Coleman.

Additionally, Oklahoma looks to become the first program to produce consecutive winners of the award.

The 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year will be announced on May 31. The list of 25 was selected by the NFCA. The top 10, top three and winner are voted on by the NFCA Division I All-America Committee.

Bahl and the Sooners play host to Central Florida in this weekend's NCAA Norman Super Regional, May 27-29. Friday's game is slated for a 3:30 p.m. CT start before a 1 p.m. first pitch on Saturday. Sunday's if-necessary game is TBD. Friday's game can be seen on ESPN, while Saturday's contest will air on ESPN2.

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