By Michael Kinney
OKLAHOMA CITY- Jordy Bahl had to be on her game. Even though No. 1 Oklahoma is a prohibited favorite to win a third straight national championship, they needed their sophomore ace to be everything she has been this season and more in order to get past No. 9 Stanford in the opening game of the Women’s College World Series.
Facing a freshman phenom who was on the attack, Bahl pitched a complete game shutout to lead OU past Stanford 2-0 Thursday at the USA Hall of Fame Stadium.
“Thankfully Jordy was absolutely on her game,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “She was just a boss today. It was really fun to watch that, especially not getting the opportunity she wanted last year and just making the most of it from day one.”
While Bahl was in control for the entire day, the contest came down to one pivotal inning for the Sooner’s offense. After being completely shut down through four innings by Stanford’s Nijaree Canady, OU (57-1) finally got to the freshman in the bottom of the fifth inning when Rylie Boone picked up a single that put two runners on base.
With two outs on the board, Jayda Coleman came to the plate with a chance to give the Sooners a boost. The junior centerfielder hit a liner into left field that appeared to load the bases. However, Ellee Eck misplayed the ball and it got past her. Boone and pitch runner Avery Hodge scored for OU as they grabbed a 2-0 lead.
“She wanted to throw 75. I think she was throwing 75 miles an hour. She was really starting ahead. She was getting strikes,” Coleman said of Canady. “I think we realized we needed to take those pitches up in the zone. For some reason, we felt like we needed to swing at them, but we got a little bit more disciplined as the innings went on and just kind of letting those go and really focusing on the strikes that were lower in the zone.”
That was all the Sooners would need as Bahl rolled through the Cardinal (45-13) lineup to put the game away.
Canady (16-2) picked up the loss after giving up two runs on four hits. She fanned seven batters and walked one.
Bahl (19-1) allowed five hits while striking out 11 on 107 pitches to claim the win and run the Sooners win streak to 49 games.
“Going into today, I think, if I learned anything from my injury, it was you just really can’t take anything for granted,” Bahl said. “So just trying to be as present as possible was huge. At the same time, just trying to treat it like another big game you’re getting ready for.”
Oklahoma moves on to play Tennessee Saturday at 3 p.m. Stanford will face Alabama in an elimination game Friday at 6 p.m.
Oklahoma and Stanford were scoreless through three innings. While most expected Dahl to control the plate, it was Canady who put on a surprising show early on for softball fans who may not pay attention to what happens on the West Coast.
Despite being in her first WCWS showed no signs of fear on the mound pitching in her first WCWS against the two-time defending champion.
“I thought it was amazing,” Canady said. “I didn’t know what to expect going in, but the atmosphere was incredible. I had no clue what to expect at first, but to be able to play in front of this crowd, it was something unbelievable.”
The Cardinal offense showed signs of life in the top of the fourth when they put two runners on base and only one out. However, Dahl fanned both Emily Schultz and Kaitlyn Lim to end the threat.
In the bottom of the fourth, Oklahoma looked like they were going to be the first on the scoreboard when Alyssa Brito came to the plate. With two outs on the board, the Sooners leading home run hitter blasted a shot to left field that appeared to have a chance to go over the fence.
However, Eck made a running catch to end the inning and keep the game tied at 0-0.
After OU took a 2-0 advantage in the fifth, Canady was replaced on the mound by Aina Vawter in the sixth inning. The pitching change didn’t seem to both the Sooners, who loaded the bases with two outs.
Grace Lyons had an opportunity to blow the game open, but the senior went down swinging. Oklahoma still held a 2-0 advantage going into the top of the seventh.
With one out on the board, Stanford’s Sydney Steele singled off Bahl into left field. However, Bahl struck out the next two batters to close the contest out.
“Nothing they do surprises me at all,” Gasso said. “They’re always ready. They’re always talking. They want to win. They want to be great. They love doing it together. So nothing surprises me about this team.”
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