Who is Tiare Jennings? Oklahoma star one of best power hitters in college softball history
Tiare Jennings has continued to be a major catalyst for Oklahoma softball.
The senior shortstop has led the No. 2 overall seed Sooners (49-6, 22-5 Big 12) to a chance to four-peat as Women's College World Series national champions when they open the 2024 NCAA Tournament at the Norman Regional against Cleveland State at Love’s Field at 7 p.m. Friday.
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With 300 career hits ― the 300th she reached against Texas in the Big 12 Tournament championship game ― Jennings sits fourth in OU history, trailing just Jocelyn Alo (343), Norrelle Dickson (328) and Sydney Romero (320). Last year, the Sooners played the minimum 10 games required to win the national championship, giving Jennings a chance to climb to third or higher if OU can finish off the four-peat.
Jennings was selected third overall in the Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball College Draft on Tuesday, and was named one of 10 finalists for USA Softball College Player of the Year on Wednesday ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
Here's everything to know about Jennings, who has been one of the best college power hitters and players in softball history:
Who is Tiare Jennings?
After being ranked the No. 2-ranked player on Extra Inning Softball’s Elite 100 list and No. 4 on FloSoftball’s Hot 100 as a high school recruit, the San Pedro, California native hit the ground running upon arriving in Norman. She started all 60 games, including 57 starts at second base for Oklahoma as a freshman, mashing 27 home runs, which ranked second in college softball.
In her second season, Jennings slugged 29 home runs, again finishing second in softball, but led the nation with 87 RBIs. She tied a WCWS record with two home runs in Game 1 of the WCWS championship series against Texas in 2022, leading the Sooners to the national championship. As a junior, she led the team in batting average (.415), hits (76), RBIs (66), and total bases (143), as the Sooners repeated as champions.
Jennings enters the postseason as the all-time leader with 29 RBIs and five home runs in the WCWS. This season, Jennings has hit 19 home runs, closing in on her third 20-home run campaign of her career. While she has seen her batting average dip to a career-low .368, she has still been one of the best bats in college softball.
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Where does Tiare Jennings rank among all-time home run leaders?
Jennings trails only Miami (Ohio)'s Karli Spaid (103 home runs) and Wichita State's Addison Barnard (93) with her 92 career home runs among active players. She is tied for fifth in career home runs and has the third-highest career mark in Sooners' history. A good postseason run could allow Jennings a chance to pass the former home run queen of softball, Lauren Chamberlain. She was teammates for with Alo, the all-time home run leader.
1. Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma (2018-22) ― 122 home runs
2. Karli Spaid, Miami (Ohio) (2021-24)* ― 103 home runs
3. Lauren Chamberlain, Oklahoma (2012-15) ― 95 home runs
4. Addison Barnard, Wichita State (2021-24)* ― 93 home runs
T5. Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma (2021-24)* ― 92 home runs
T5. Jessie Harper, Arizona (2017-21) ― 92 home runs
T5. Mia Davidson, Mississippi State (2018-22) ― 92 home runs
T5. Katiyana Mauga, Arizona (2014-17) ― 92 home runs
9. Stacey Nuveman, UCLA (1997-2002) ― 90 home runs
10. Stacie Chambers, Arizona (2008-11) ― 87 home runs
Tiare Jennings stats
Here's Tiare Jennings' year-by-year stats at Oklahoma:
2024: .368 batting average with 19 home runs and 57 RBIs
2023: .415 batting average with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs
2022: .401 batting average with 29 home runs and 87 RBIs
2021: .462 batting average with 27 home runs and 92 RBIs
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who is Tiare Jennings? Oklahoma power hitter one of best in WCWS history
