In a season that has redefined Nebraska softball’s record books, Jordyn Bahl has etched her name into Big Ten history with an unprecedented achievement. The Papillion-La Vista graduate became the first player ever to claim both Big Ten Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year honors in the same season, marking a milestone that speaks volumes about her exceptional dual-threat capabilities.
The junior standout’s numbers tell a story of dominance that borders on the mythical. With a scorching .467 batting average, 19 home runs, and 59 RBIs, Bahl has terrorized opposing pitchers throughout the season. Perhaps more remarkably, she’s managed to be even more dominant in the circle, posting a 23-6 record with a microscopic 1.46 ERA and 243 strikeouts in 168.1 innings.
In a statistical anomaly that perfectly encapsulates her two-way impact, Bahl has scored more runs (61) as a batter than she’s allowed as a pitcher (57) through 51 games this season. This level of dual excellence has never been seen before in the conference, making her the first to sweep both major awards in a single campaign.
However, the fairy tale season hit a speed bump in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, where the Huskers (39-13) fell to UCLA (49-9). The loss marked Nebraska’s third consecutive semifinal exit since their tournament triumph in 2022. Despite Bahl’s 11-strikeout performance, the Bruins’ offense proved too potent, tagging her for four runs on nine hits in six innings of work.
The tournament setback, while disappointing, hardly diminishes the historic nature of Nebraska’s season or Bahl’s individual achievements. As a three-time conference Pitcher of the Year (including her two Big 12 honors at Oklahoma), she joins an elite group as just the sixth pitcher from a power conference to achieve this milestone.
The Huskers’ success hasn’t been a one-woman show, though. The team’s depth was evident in the conference honors, with Ava Kuszak joining Bahl on the All-Big Ten first team, while Samantha Bland and Hannah Camenzind earned second-team recognition. Bland’s defensive excellence at third base, particularly her perfect fielding percentage in conference play, earned her a spot on the All-Defensive team.
As the team awaits their fate in the NCAA Tournament selection show (airing Sunday, May 11 at 6 p.m. CDT on ESPN2), the focus shifts to postseason preparation. Despite the conference tournament stumble, Nebraska’s body of work, anchored by Bahl’s historic season, positions them well for the national tournament beginning May 16.
The question now becomes whether this Husker squad, led by their two-way superstar, can translate their regular-season excellence into a deep postseason run. With Bahl’s unprecedented versatility and the team’s proven depth, Nebraska remains a formidable contender as they enter the national tournament stage.