Northwestern brought a 9-16 nonconference record into today's B1G opener at No. 2 Michigan (who entered 22-2). Things seemed to be going according to form, as the Wolverines held leads of 6-0 after three innings and 7-2 after four (box score, game article). The Wildcats exploded for 7 in the fifth and 4 in the sixth, to take a 13-7 lead. UM then rallied for 5 in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't enough, as Northwestern prevailed 13-12. The same teams play again Saturday and Sunday.
The college softball world has thrown us a "Curve Bahl," if you will. Such is the unexpected news that Oklahoma ace Jordy Bahl has announced that she will transfer to the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Bahl is from the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. Three thoughts jump out at me: Bahl was absolutely indispensable to the Sooners' 61-1 national championship season, coming up with numerous clutch strikeouts in tight tournament games against Clemson (super-regionals, Game 2 ) and Stanford ( WCWS semifinals ). OU benefited greatly this season via the transfer portal, bringing in Haley Lee from Texas A&M, Alex Storako from Michigan, and Cydney Sanders and Alynah Torres from Arizona State. Bahl's transfer is the first major one in the modern portal era (to my knowledge) in the other direction. Nebraska becomes an instant national championship contender, in my mind. Other players around the country may find it attractive to join Bahl in Lincoln but even if