Oklahoma softball: Tiare Jennings named Big 12 Player of the Week
By Chip Rouse
Yesterday, we reported that if Oklahoma softball second baseman Tiare Jennings wasn’t named Big 12 Player of the Week, something was grossly wrong.
On Tuesday, the Big 12 took all the mystery out of the selection, officially naming Jennings the Player of the Week recipient for games ended the week of May 1.
It was Jennings second Player of the Week award this season and the 12th Big 12 weekly award won by eight different Sooner players this season.
Jennings homered in each of Oklahoma’s three games at Kansas over the weekend, giving her 21 for the season, eighth most in NCAA Division I softball. She finished the weekend batting .636 (7 for 11) along with eight runs scored, eight runs driven in and 16 total bases. She also earned a pair of walks and stole two bases in as many attempts
The Sooner sophomore second baseman also was stellar in the field with six putouts and four assists, including a double play.
For the season, Jennings is hitting an even .400 through 46 games with 21 home runs, 64 runs scored and 64 driven in.
Joining Jennings with Big 12 softball accolades this week is Iowa State pitcher Ellie Spelhaug, named Pitcher of the Week in the conference. Interestingly, Jennings went 2 for 6 against Spelhaug this season with a single and double.
Last season, Jennings, who is from San Pedro, California, was named NFCA/Schutt Sports NCAA Division I Freshman of the Year and was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year top-10 finalist.
The Sooners will need Jennings’ offense this weekend as OU hosts Big 12 co-leader and No. 7-ranked Oklahoma State