Oklahoma softball star Jocelyn Alo is one step closer to repeating as the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
Alo is one of three finalists for the prestigious 2022 individual honor. The other two finalists are South Florida fifth-year senior pitcher Georgina Corrick and University of Washington senior infielder Baylee Klingler.
Alo is the reigning National Player of the Year, and she is enjoying another outstanding season in 2022. Earlier this season, the Oklahoma superstar set a new NCAA career record for home runs. The old record, held by a former Sooner player, Lauren Chamberlain, was 95. Alo broke the record with her eighth round-tripper of the season during a tournament in her home state of Hawaii in March. She currently has 25 home runs this season, giving her 113 for her career.
In addition to her record-setting home run performance this season, Alo ranks second in Division I softball with a .481 batting average, the highest of her career, and leads college softball with a 1.128 slugging percentage and a .622 on-base percentage. Her 25 long balls this year ranks third currently, and she has five multi-homer games and one game with three home runs.
Alo was recently named the Big 12 Player of the Year for a second consecutive season and is seeking to become the second Oklahoma player to win the national honor in back-to-back seasons. OU’s Keilani Ricketts was awarded National Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013.
Alo and Ricketts are the only Sooners to receive the top individual honor, although a Sooner player has been a top-three finalist eight times previously. This is the third straight year someone from Oklahoma has been a top-three finalist.
The winner of the 2022 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced prior to the Women’s College World Series scheduled for June 2-10.