Oklahoma Duo Sweep Big 12 Honors

Tiare Jennings and Jordy Bahl both had a big series against Texas as the Sooners emphatically swept the rival Longhorns.

Oklahoma didn't need to make a statement over the weekend. But the Sooners made one anyway.

Sweeping No. 9-ranked Texas in a Big 12 series was just the latest team accomplishment for a team that has already accomplished much.

On Tuesday, some individual accolades were handed down, as second baseman Tiare Jennings was named Big 12 Player of the Week and pitcher Jordy Bahl was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week. 

In front of a record-breaking crowd of 8,930 at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in game one of their three-game conference series — a number that shattered the previous NCAA single-game regular season attendance number of 5,724 set by Fresno State in 2000 — the Sooners routed the Longhorns twice and staged a dramatic rally in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two for the emphatic sweep.

Jennings batted .727 on the weekend with two home runs, eight RBIs and a double for a 1.364 slugging clip. Her batting average, eight hits and RBIs led the league for the week. The two-time unanimous All-American registered her first four-hit game of 2023 and fifth of her career in Sunday’s run-rule win over the Longhorns, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. 

On the season, the two-time All-Big 12 First Team member is batting .457, leads the team with 39 RBIs and is tied for the team lead with nine home runs, helping the top-ranked Sooners outscore opponents 300-33 this season. This is her seventh Big 12 weekly award and first this season. 

Jennings was also named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week. 

Bahl allowed just one run on two hits (0.81 ERA) in her three appearances (8 2/3 innings pitched) to go with two wins in the circle. The sophomore held Texas to a .080 batting average during the weekend. 

In Friday’s game one, after surrendering a leadoff home run in the first inning, Bahl allowed just one more UT hit the remainder of the game, striking out six in the complete-game performance. She entered in relief Saturday and Sunday and closed out OU wins, allowing no hits, runs or walks in games two and three in a combined 1 2/3 innings. 

On the season, Bahl moved to 10-1 with a 1.55 ERA and 80 strikeouts. This is the 2022 Big 12 Freshman of the Year’s fourth career weekly league honor and first this year.