Oklahoma softball's Tiare Jennings has the clutch factor

There were many heroes for Oklahoma softball in its dramatic victory against Clemson on Saturday afternoon in Norman.

To absolutely nobody’s surprise, Tiare Jennings was among them. Jennings, a junior, hit the Super Regional-clinching home run in the top of the ninth against potential national player of the year, Clemson’s Valerie Cagle, in the historic Oklahoma 8-7 win in front of the largest crowd ever at Marita Hynes Field.

It’s why she was one of the 10 finalists for national player of the year and why some were miffed by her exclusion for the final three. Jennings delivers.

That blast marked her second home run of the game. And it was the second time this postseason where Jennings has gone yard twice in a game.

Because when push comes to shove, the one thing Jennings is going to do is come up big in the biggest moments.

“When you become a junior, you’re pretty well known so pitchers have a good resume on you and what you like and don’t like,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “I think Tiare has been as clutch and timely as she’s been since she got here.”

Nobody knew what would happen for Jennings this season. Were her numbers the first two years a product of batting with Jocelyn Alo? Or was Jennings just that good?

The speculation started to grow when she only had one home run in the first 11 games. Perhaps the power numbers aren’t what people first thought, but Jennings hasn’t disappointed at all. And as the calendar has turned to May and now June, she remains one of the best all-around players in the country.

“But her RBI numbers are good. Everything about her is clutch and timely,” Gasso said. 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.

“Elite hitters can’t be elite every day or every week. It just doesn’t work like that. Very rarely do you ever see Tiare have an off weekend. If she thinks she has, I don’t know what. Because she just hits the ball so hard and so well.”

Jennings now has 16 home runs, 60 RBIs, 56 runs scored and a .436 batting average.

What sets her apart is her simple approach. Jennings said she’s just playing free and has that trust. The trust of who is hitting before her and hitting after her. It allows her to just be herself.

It defines exactly what was going through her head vs. Cagle in that memorable ninth.

Said Jennings: “Leading off the inning, I just wanted to get on base somehow. Whether it was a walk, hit by pitch, anything I can to get on base. Saw a good pitch to hit, hit the ball hard and good things happened.”

Sometimes it’s just that simple. Don’t overcomplicate things and just go to work.

As good as she’s been at the plate, she’s no slouch in the field, either. Jennings has committed just one error this season for Oklahoma.

She’s one half of a dynamic duo with shortstop Grace Lyons, whose on-field chemistry has been a pleasure for OU fans to watch.

“She’s just a really special player and person,” Lyons said. “I know I can trust her no matter the situation. We’re going to find a way to get the job done, no matter what.”

The Sooners will begin their quest for a third straight national championship by taking on Stanford at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.

Could it be another moment for Jennings? She came through with a two-run double the first time these teams met in a 10-1 (6) victory for Oklahoma back in February.

If that moment comes again, and Jennings number is called, well, you know she’s not going to blink.