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Oklahoma softball: Sooner dynamic duo sweep top national awards

By Chip Rouse

Montgomery Central's Nicole Melton hits against Northeast during action at Northeast Tuesday afternoon. The Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Indians 4-0.Nehs Mchs Softball 02
Montgomery Central's Nicole Melton hits against Northeast during action at Northeast Tuesday afternoon. The Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Indians 4-0.Nehs Mchs Softball 02 /
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The Oklahoma softball duo of senior Jocelyn Alo and true freshman Tiare Jennings have been national statistical leaders all season.

On Wednesday, the Sooner teammates were rewarded for such, being named recipients of two high national honors.

Alo was named winner of the 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. She is the second Sooner to win the award. Former OU pitcher Keilani Ricketts won the award in back-to-back years in 2012 and ’13.

After being honored a three weeks ago as Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Jennings was named NFCA/Schutt Sports Division I Freshman of the Year.

Alo has been the power bat in Oklahoma explosive offense that is outscoring opponents 11 to 2 this season. The Big 12 Player of the Year’s phenomenal performance this season includes an NCAA-leading 30 home runs and a 1.135 slugging percentage. She ranks second in runs batted in (82) and fourth in batting average (.487).

A native of Hawaii, Alo hit a home run in 28 of the Sooners’ 52 games and collected at least one hit in 47 games. She has already announced she plans to return for a fifth season, taking advantage of the one-year NCAA eligibility waiver granted to student athletes because of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic year.

Alo beat out UCLA pitcher Rachel Garcia, the Collegiate Player of the Year winner in 2019, and pitcher Gabbie Plain of Washington, the top three finalists for the award.

Jennings’ 2021 season has been equally impressive. The first-year Sooner ranks fourth nationally with a .485 batting average and is tied for second with 25 home runs. She has homered in 21 of OU’s games and set a program record, hitting three round-trippers in her very first collegiate game.

The freshman’s batting average/slugging percentage/on-base-plus-slugging percentage slash line of .485/,537/1.035 is impressive for any college player, but is exceptional for a first-year player.

Jennings was also a top-10 finalist for the Collegiate Player of the Year award.

Alo and Jennings are two of the Oklahoma stars who hope to lead the Sooners to their fifth national championship in the Women’s College World Series, which begins for top-seeded OU on Thursday against opening-round opponent James Madison.

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