Tiare Jennings, Jordy Bahl describe emotions of ending with national championship

It seemed like the likely outcome for some time now, but nothing was guaranteed for Oklahoma, not even a third-straight national championship. But after the Sooners ousted Florida State to hoist the national championship trophy and complete a three-peat, it was a chance for veterans Tiare Jennings and Jordy Bahl to reflect on the journey.

Both were happy to take a beat and bask in the glory of a championship while pausing from the day-to-day churn of practicing and preparing for the next game, series or season. And Jennings loved getting to watch freshman and transfers go on their first run to a national championship.

“But just to see the joy of the transfers and the freshmen, for them, that’s what I love. I experienced this, and this year has been the most fun with that. Just seeing them and being genuinely truly happy for each other, you can’t ask for anything better,” Jennings said.

Bahl concurred with Jennings, and highlighted the togetherness of the 2023 squad.

There was the inherent pressure to try and win a third-straight title — only the second time it ever happened in college softball, matching UCLA’s run in the late 1980s and early 1990s — along with the usual grind of an offseason, workouts and then a lengthy season to boot.

Plus, once Oklahoma got on then eventual record-setting win streak, the pressure to keep that alive surely added on.

And Bahl couldn’t have been happier with the way she and her teammates navigated it all.

“I think not a lot of other people would fully understand what it’s like to go through just the day to day from off-season during the summer to August, everything up until now. Everyone just sees what’s put on the field on game day,” Bahl said. “There’s a lot. I’m just proud of how we’ve stuck together through pressure, adversity, and just have ultimately been one strong, cohesive unit that has at the end of the day taken that pressure and giving the glory to the Lord and been able to still play free and play together and find joy in things outside of the playing field.”

Oklahoma earned a compliment from Florida State’s coach after their dominance

Lonni Alameda knew winning two games in a row to beat Oklahoma in the Women’s College World Series would be difficult. At the same time, knowing it would be difficult doesn’t take the sting out of things for the Seminoles.

Despite that heartache, Alameda took the time after the loss to compliment the Sooners.

“Yeah, I guess first off, congratulations to OU,” Alameda said. “They’re just firing on all cylinders. It’s pretty cool. I think a lot of people were texting me throughout, like a lot of people don’t like that one team’s winning all the time. I get a little vibe sometimes of, like, take down the machine.”