Tiare Jennings on clutch 2023: Nothing goes into it, just playing free and easy

Oklahoma All-American second baseman Tiare Jennings has been one of the best hitters during her three years playing college softball. She has hit over .400 in each of her three seasons and after this weekend’s Super Regional against Clemson, the junior is up to .436 on the season.

Jennings, on top of being a standout hitter, has also been outstanding in the clutch during her career. In the second game of the Super Regional, Jennings smacked two home runs, including the eventual game-winning solo shot in the top of the ninth that sent the Sooners back to the Women’s College World Series.

But ahead of the Super Regional, Jennings was asked about her clutch hitting this season. She said she didn’t really think anything about it when she was up at the plate.

“I think completely nothing,” Jennings said. “I know that I have complete trust in the person in front of me and the person behind me. I just go up there and I just think, hit the ball hard somewhere and then the rest is gonna take care of itself. But just knowing that this whole lineup is stacked and even our bench is stacked so just knowing that if I don’t come through somebody else is going to. That just allows me to do what I do.”

Jennings has a .500 on-base percentage on the season with 72 hits, 16 home runs, 60 RBI, 15 doubles and 56 runs scored for Oklahoma.

Over her first two seasons, she had 56 home runs, 65 walks, 33 doubles and 164 runs scored.

“When you become a junior, you’re pretty well known or a senior, you’re very well known,” Gasso said ahead of the Super Regional. “Pitchers have a good resume on you and what you like or don’t like. I think tra has been as clutch and timely as she has been since she got here. Maybe her power numbers might look different. But her RBI numbers are good. Everything about her is is clutch, is timely. I don’t look at it. I don’t compare her seasons. I think she’s one of the best hitters in the country without question.”