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Tiare Jennings: Baylor loss put us in our place

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•05/26/23•

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Photo by C. Morgan Engel | NCAA Photos via Getty Images

It’s not often you hear a player say they’re grateful for a loss. Then again, players like Oklahoma infielder Tiare Jennings don’t come around often.

Following Oklahoma’s dominant run at the regional tournament, where no team came within 10 runs of them, Jennings sat down with the media to discuss the Sooners’ season. When asked about the team’s sole loss of the season, her answer was surprising.

“It definitely put us in our place,” Jennings admitted during a press conference on Wednesday. “We’re not afraid to lose. If it happens, it happens. We’re going to keep learning and growing.”

The team certainly seemed to grow from the loss. The Sooners fell 4-3 to Baylor on Feb. 19 in the Getterman Classic. Since then, Oklahoma has won 46 games in a row.

Within that win streak, Oklahoma faced Baylor again three times. They won all three matchups, keeping Baylor scoreless every time.

“Nobody has beat us twice. If they’re going to beat us once, we’re going to go out there and not let it happen again. That loss definitely helped us throughout the entire season,” Jennings said.

The Clemson Tigers are looking to hand Oklahoma its second loss of the season. The two programs will face off in the super regionals in a best-of-three series to advance to the 2023 Women’s College World Series.

While the Sooners have appeared nearly invincible, they have their work cut out for them. Clemson boasts Valerie Cagle, one the best players in the nation. The right-handed pitcher won 2023 ACC Player of the Year.

Cagle can do more than pitch. The 5-foot-9 redshirt junior has a .467 batting average this season. Luckily for the Sooners, it isn’t the first time they’ve faced adversity. Jennings is excited for the challenge.

“It’s going to be a really good matchup for us,” Jennings said. “They deserve to be here just like anybody else. It’s going to be a good matchup, fun energy, and they definitely get after it.”

Watch the two teams “get after it” in Game 1 at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.