If you went through all the OU softball press conferences of the last couple of seasons, you could make a reel of head coach Patty Gasso just saying clutch.
It’s her word. Whenever anybody asks Gasso about senior Tiare Jennings, it’s the first word. Jennings is the most clutch hitter Gasso has ever seen.
Maybe not the most dominant, but when OU needs a big hit? Everybody knows you can count on Jennings in the big moment.
You also, sometimes, don’t realize when that moment will be. Doesn’t always have to occur in the sixth or seventh inning. That certainly wasn’t the case Saturday.
Instead, it was the first pitch of the bottom of third. Jennings took it over the wall and provided the only run in the 1-0 victory against UCLA in the Women’s College World Series.
Home run No. 23 this season and RBI No. 64. Jennings did her part, and Kelly Maxwell did the rest to put the Sooners one step closer to gunning for their fourth consecutive national championship.
“Well, it kind of feels like Jocelyn Alo at times,” said Gasso about Jennings’ impact. “When she comes up, you know something good is going to happen, especially on these big stages.”
With each game, it feels like Jennings is writing her name in OU and NCAA record books. So good when it matters most that you almost forget about her late-season struggles.
On April 20, Jennings had a .415 average. From there? The co-captain went on the worst stretch of her career. Jennings went 2-for-26 during the next couple of weeks.
It took, surprise, the Bedlam win vs. Oklahoma State on that Sunday for Jennings to get it going again. Jennings hit a solo home run in that now legendary six-run sixth inning that got the team back on track.
Jennings dipped 50 points down to .365. But she found herself again and hasn’t looked back.
“I think obviously I was just kind of in a slump, either trying too hard, or I’m going to swing and see what happens,” Jennings said. “It’s going to come, going to come. Going through the ups and downs, but having those people in your inner circle, that’s going to keep you positive and keep you confident no matter what you’re doing.
“It’s good to know they can always keep me accountable. Let loose, smile, let go. I think that’s what helped me throughout this time and keep the trend. No matter the outcome, just keep having fun.”
Since regional play, it’s the usual Jennings. She is 10-for-23 from the plate, hitting .435. She’s added four home runs, seven runs scored and seven RBIs.
And of course, the big blow vs. the Bruins. Playing against her longtime friend and former childhood teammate, UCLA star Maya Brady, Jennings spoiled her friend’s birthday.
“I always love seeing her,” Brady said. “Obviously, us not going to school together, this is kind of the arena that we get to see each other play a lot. So it’s really cool. I love watching her do her thing and live out her dream.
“I told her — she sent me a nice text today, and I told her, when you win, I win. No matter the outcome, we love each other. So it’s just awesome to see her do her thing.”
Jennings is now up to 96 home runs and 309 RBIs in her career. Staggering statistics, for sure. But for now? Jennings is focused just one thing – the quest for that fourth title in her four years at OU.
“I don’t think about it,” Jennings said. “Something for later, for sure (smiling). Definitely an honor when I see it up on social media. When I’m in the moment, I don’t think about anything except just fighting for this team.”
Up next
A lot of waiting for OU, the good kind. The Sooners will play 11 a.m. Monday against either Alabama or Florida. The Gators play the Crimson Tide on Sunday afternoon. OU will get two chances to advance to the championship series. If the Sooners lose the first one, they’ll come right back and play a winner-take-all contest Monday afternoon.
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