OU Softball: Oklahoma Dominates D1 Softball's All-American Selections
Oklahoma gained some more recognition for its dominant season on Tuesday.
The top-ranked Sooners headlined D1 Softball’s All-American selections, with the staff voting for seven OU players across the first and second teams, including five players on the first team.
Jordy Bahl, Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings, Alyssa Brito and Kinzie Hansen all were voted onto the First Team, with Haley Lee and Grace Lyons earning Second Team honors.
Bahl enters the 2023 Women’s College World Series ranked No. 6-overall in ERA, posting a 1.08 mark.
Last year’s NFCA Freshman of the Year followed up her inaugural season at Oklahoma with another phenomenal year. Bahl has pitched 122 2/3 innings, striking out 159 batters while issuing 34 walks, only allowing six home runs and holding opponents to a .164 batting average.
Bahl has also delivered in the biggest moments for OU, including three crucial shutout innings of relief against the 16-seeded Clemson Tigers in the Sooners’ late comeback this past Saturday.
At the plate, Bahl hit .406 in 32 at-bats, driving in eight RBIs and hitting a pair of doubles.
Jennings was again outstanding for the Sooners in 2023.
OU’s star second baseman currently leads the team with a .436 batting average, has driven in 60 runs and has hit 16 home runs, which is tied with Coleman for second on the team. Jennings has only struck out eight times in 165 plate appearances, drawing 27 walks and posting an on-base percentage of .500.
Coleman, who also finished in the top 10 for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year alongside Jennings and Bahl, has had a stellar season in both the field and at the plate.
The Sooner center fielder has hit a career-high 16 homers, driving in 46 runs while batting .413 and earning 38 walks.
Brito, who wasn’t an All-Big 12 selection, has made herself a home at third base for Oklahoma.
A sure-handed fielder on the corner after spending most of last year in left field, she’s also been a powerful piece of the lineup.
Brito leads the Sooners with 17 long balls, batting .411 with 59 RBIs.
Fresh off her clutch performance in the seventh inning against Clemson, Hansen has had a resurgent season after dealing with injuries in 2022.
Batting .415, which stands as third on the team, Hansen has blasted 12 home runs and driven in 53 total runs, posting an on-base percentage of .446.
Lee has played in all 57 games so far this season, mostly as a designated player, and been a key part of OU’s powerful lineup.
The super senior has blasted 14 home runs and driven in 51 RBIs while batting .399.
When called upon to play in the field Lee has been steady, which came in handy in Stillwater after Hansen was held out of catching the final two games of Bedlam.
Lyons, Oklahoma’s captain, rounded out the selections.
The OU shortstop continued to deliver highlight after highlight in the field this season, and she paired her defensive efforts with a .331 batting average, 33 RBIs and eight home runs.
Tennessee was the only other team with multiple First Team selections, as the Volunteers ended up with two.
Oklahoma will open its WCWS campaign against Standard on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
The contest from Hall of Fame Stadium will be broadcast on ESPN.
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