1 Oklahoma
Georgia
June 5 / Women's College World Series / USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium / Oklahoma City
ON DECK
• No. 1 overall seed Oklahoma (50-2, 16-1 Big 12) continues its quest for a fifth national title this week as the Sooners make their fifth consecutive and 14th overall appearance at the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
• After dropping its WCWS opener to unseeded James Madison Thursday, the Sooners match up with Georgia Saturday morning at 11 a.m. CT in an elimination game. With a win over UGA, OU would meet the loser of Alabama-UCLA (Friday at 8:30 p.m. CT) on Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT.
• Saturday's game vs. UGA can be seen on ESPN with Kevin Brown and Amanda Scarborough on the call.
• The action can be heard on The Franchise (107.7 FM) in Oklahoma and nationwide on the TuneIn app with OU play-by-play announcer Chris Plank and alum Erin Miller on the call. All OU games can also be heard on SiriusXM channel 84 and on Westwood One Sports Radio.
• Tickets for the WCWS are available via NCAAtickets.com
WCWS NOTES & NUMBERS
• It's been done before: Three times in the history of the Women's College World Series the national champion has lost its opening game of the WCWS: 2018 Florida State, 2003 UCLA and 1983 Texas A&M.
• OU has lost its opener at the World Series just six times in its 14 appearances and 53 games in OKC, most recently in 2018. The 2018 team battled back to Sunday, winning two games before falling to Washington.
• As a team, OU has not been struck out double-digit times in 2021. OU struck out nine times to JMU's Odicci Alexander Thursday, tying its season high for strikeouts in a game (also K'd nine times at ASU, 2/26).
• A record crowd was on hand for Friday's opening session of the 2021 WCWS. 11,546 attended the two games in Session 1 while 10,216 were in attendance for the afternoon's Session 2 for a total of 21,762 on the day at the newly-renovated USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.
• National Freshman of the Year Tiare Jennings hit her 26th home run of her first-year campaign Thursday vs. JMU. She is within four homers of the NCAA Division I freshman home run record (30) set by three players, most recently Jocelyn Alo in 2018. Lauren Chamberlain hit 30 her frosh season in 2012 and Hawaii's Kelly Majam hit the mark as a freshman in 2010.
• With three RBIs on Thursday, Jennings has a nation-best 87 on the year and is within three of tying the NCAA DI freshman RBI record 90 set in 2000 by Jenny Topping of Washington.
• Senior Jocelyn Alo remains tied for the program record for single-season home runs with 30. With one more she will move into sole possession of the program crown, moving past the 30 she also hit in 2018 and 2015 graduate Lauren Chamberlain hit in 2012 and '13. She's seven shy of the NCAA single-season record 37 Laura Espinoza hit in 1995 for Arizona.
• Alo is currently tied for seventh in NCAA history with 84 career home runs. She's 11 shy of the NCAA record 95 OU alum Chamberlain (2012-15) hit in her career.
LAST TIME OUT
• The top-seeded Sooners dropped its opening game at the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City to James Madison, 4-3, in eight innings Thursday.
• After falling behind three runs on a three-run home run from Sara Jubas in the top of the third inning, OU responded with a three-run blast of their own off the bat of freshman Tiare Jennings in the bottom of the inning.
• The difference maker was a solo shot from JMU's Kate Gordon in the top of the eighth. Oklahoma put one baserunner on in the bottom of the eighth but couldn't maneuver the walk off win as JMU pitcher Odicci Alexander forced a pair of flyouts to complete the upset.
• Alexander contained the potent Oklahoma offense on the day, allowing just six hits and three runs to the top-ranked attack in the country. She struck out nine and walked a pair in the complete-game performance.
• OU redshirt senior Shannon Saile went all eight innings for OU in the circle, scattering just three JMU hits to go with nine strikeouts and one walk. All four of the Dukes runs came via home run.
• Jennings led the Sooners at the plate with a 2-for-4, three RBI performance, bringing in all three of OU's runs in the game on her third-inning homer.
A LOOK AT THE BULLDOGS
• The Sooners and Bulldogs meet for the third time of the season, with Saturday's contest being the rubber match of the year after each team took a game in the regular season matchups.
• Georgia handed OU its first loss of the season back on April 20, a 7-6 decision in nine innings in UGA's favor. The loss ended OU's 40-game win streak.
• OU turned around in the second game of the doubleheader in Athens to beat the Bulldogs 12-3 in run-rule fashion in five innings.
• UGA pitcher Mary Wilson Avant has been the ace in the circle for the Bulldogs, striking out 199 on the year to 76 walks in 203.2 inning pitched. She holds a 2.72 ERA entering Saturday.
• At the plate, UGA is batting .265 as a team, led by Lacey Finisher's .338 BA and 15 HR. Sydney Kuma leads the Dawgs with 39 RBIs on the year.
• The Sooners and Bulldogs meet for the first time at the World Series on Saturday in the history of the two storied softball programs.
BACK TO OKC
•The Sooners return to the Women's College World Series for the fifth year in a row and ninth time in the last 10 seasons. No other program in the country has made as many trips to the WCWS as Oklahoma since the 2011 season.
• Oklahoma is making its 14th overall appearance at the WCWS, tied for the third-most showings all-time. The Sooners trail UCLA (30 appearances) and Arizona (24) and share third all-time with Washington (14).
• Overall, this season marks Oklahoma's 27th consecutive appearance in the NCAA postseason, including every year under head coach Patty Gasso. Only Arizona holds a longer active streak (34 straight), while the Sooners are tied with Washington for second-longest run.
• In 2019, the last season the tournament was played, OU reached its 13th WCWS in program history, culminating in a runner-up finish in the championship series. With four national titles (2000, '13, '16, '17) Oklahoma trails only UCLA (12) and Arizona (8) for most in NCAA history, and no other team has more than two.
EXIT 132A
• The Sooners will make a familiar trip up I-35 North for the Women's College World Series, traveling less than 30 miles from Marita Hynes Field to USA Hall of Fame Stadium.
OU is 7-1 at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium this year, defeating Houston, Kansas City and Liberty (twice) in the Hall of Fame Classic, March 12-14 prior to winning three games at the Big 12 Softball Championship (Baylor, Texas Tech, OSU). The Sooners only loss at HOF Stadium came Thursday to JMU. Oklahoma has won 33 of its last 40 games at HOF Stadium.
• All time, Oklahoma is 113-47 under Patty Gasso in Oklahoma City, including regular season and postseason games.
SOONERS VS. THE FIELD
• Alabama: The Sooners and Crimson Tide have met 12 times in the postseason, most recently facing off three times in the 2019 WCWS with OU taking two of the three games. After a 3-2 OU win in the team's opening game at the World Series, Bama advanced out of the losers bracket to beat OU once before OU turned around in the second game of the doubleheader to beat the Tide and advance to the Championship Series
• Arizona: The Wildcats hold a 20-29 advantage all-time over the Sooners. OU took the last matchup in Tucson in 2020, a 6-4 OU win in 10 innings. The programs have not met at the World Series since 2002.
• Florida State: The Seminoles hold just a 6-7 all-time lead over OU with the last meeting coming in 2019 at the St. Pete/Clearwater Invitation, a 7-4 FSU win. The programs have never met at the WCWS.
• Georgia: One of OU's two losses in 2021 came in Athens in the first game of a doubleheader April 20. UGA handed Oklahoma it's first loss of the season and ended the Sooners 40-game win streak with a 7-6 win in nine innings. The two programs will meet for the first time in the World Series Saturday.
• James Madison: took the first meeting in the history of the two programs Thursday, 4-3, in eight innings.
• Oklahoma State: Bedlam for the second consecutive WCWS is a possibility if both the Sooners and Cowgirls win their respective games on Thursday (OSU vs. Georgia). The Sooners lead the all-time series with Oklahoma State with an 96-71 record. The Sooners have more wins over the Cowgirls than any other team in program history and head coach Patty Gasso has more wins vs. OSU than any other team with 67. OU has won 29 of the past 31 matchups
• UCLA: The Sooners and Bruins met in the 2019 WCWS Championship Series with the Bruins claiming the title in two games over the Sooners. Oklahoma trails the all-time series with the Bruins with four wins to 11 losses.
ALO WINS USA SOFTBALL COLLEGIATE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Oklahoma softball senior Jocelyn Alo was named the 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the organization announced Tuesday evening.
• It marks the first time in the history of the two awards that one program has swept both national honors with freshman Tiare Jennings winning NFCA/Schutt Sports DI Freshman of the Year, also announced Tuesday.
• Alo collects OU's third USA Softball Player of the Year Award, joining 2013 alum Keilani Ricketts (2012, '13) as the only Sooners to win the award. Alo, the Big 12 Player of the Year and First Team All-Big 12 and All-Region selection, has paced the explosive Oklahoma offense in 2021, holding the nation's lead in home runs (30) and slugging percentage (1.127) and ranks second in RBIs (82) and fourth in batting average (.487). Her 30 home runs entering the World Series is tied for the program record she set herself in 2018, along with Lauren Chamberlain in 2012 and '13.
• The senior slugger has homered in 28 of OU's 53 games, including two grand slams and two multi-home run games. Alo is averaging 0.58 home runs per game and a home run ever 5.2 at-bats. The Hauula, Hawaii, native has registered a hit in 48 of OU's 53 games, including going on a program record 40-game consecutive hit streak dating from Feb. 21, 2020 to April 3, 2021. The streak was just three games shy of the all-time NCAA record.
• Alo tied the NCAA record for consecutive games with a home run at seven from March 7 vs. Sam Houston through OU's first matchup with Iowa State, March 26. The Hauula, Hawaii, native has 84 career homers, just 11 shy of the OU and NCAA career record (95), set by 2015 OU grad Lauren Chamberlain.
JENNINGS WINS NFCA FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
• Jennings wins OU's third NFCA Freshman of the Year honor, joining Paige Parker in 2015 and Alo in 2018. A Sooner has won three times in the seven-year history of the award.
• Also the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Jennings has hit 26 home runs to go with 87 RBIs in her first-year campaign. Her RBI mark leads in the nation and she's second in the country for home runs, just four behind fellow national award winner Alo's 30. She holds an exceptional slash line of .486/.537/1.064.
• The San Pedro, Calif., product has homered in 22 of OU's 53 games and hit multiple homers in a game three times, beginning with the season opener at UTEP where she tied a single-game program record with three home runs in her first collegiate game.
• The frosh has started every game of the season at second or third base and holds a .973 fielding percentage with 59 putouts and 49 assists to just three errors.
• Oklahoma freshman Jayda Coleman was also a finalist for NFCA Freshman of the Year. OU is one of two programs in the award's history with two of the three finalists for the award, joining Florida's Amanda Lorenz (winner) and Kelly Barnhill in 2016. The third finalist for this season's honor was Clemson's Valerie Cagle.
FIVE SOONERS EARN ALL-AMERICA HONORS
• Five members of the No. 1 Oklahoma softball team were named National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Americans, the organization announced Wednesday.
• Senior Jocelyn Alo and freshmen Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings were named First Team honorees. Junior Grace Lyons and sophomore Kinzie Hansen collected Second Team accolades.
• The five selections tied for most in the country with UCLA and the three first team honors is second best in the nation.
• Jennings was one of just five unanimous first team All-Americans.
• Alo receives her third career All-America honor and second first-team accolade after garnering the status as a freshman. The other four Sooners earn the first honor of their careers.
• Alo, named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year on Tuesday night, has paced the explosive Oklahoma offense in 2021. The Big 12 Player of the Year holds the nation's lead in home runs (30) and slugging percentage (1.127) and ranks second in RBIs (82) and fourth in batting average (.487). Her 30 home runs entering the World Series is tied for the program record she set herself in 2018, along with Lauren Chamberlain in 2012 and '13.
• Also the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Jennings is OU's first unanimous All-America selection since Caleigh Clifton in 2019. Jennings has hit 26 home runs to go with 87 RBIs in her first-year campaign. Her RBI mark leads in the nation and she's second in the country for home runs, just four behind fellow national award winner Alo's 30. She holds a slash line of .486/.537/1.064. The San Pedro, Calif., product has homered in 22 of OU's 53 games and hit multiple homers in a game three times. Jennings has been steady in the field as well, starting every game of the season at second or third base and holding a .973 fielding percentage with 59 putouts and 49 assists to just three errors.
• Coleman, a First Team All-Big 12 selection and Top-3 Finalist for National Freshman of the year, is second on the team with a .566 on-base percentage and holds an on-base streak of 44 games and ranks second on the team with 32 walks drawn. The product of The Colony, Texas, leads the team with 20 stolen bases on 24 attempts in 2021. She's fourth on the team in doubles with nine on the year and has hit eight home runs.
• The Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Hansen, has been a force both at the plate and behind it in 2021. She's hit 21 home runs to go with a .448 batting average and 58 RBIs. Her 21 homers ranks seventh in the country and her batting clip ranks 14th. She has struck out just six times on the year in 154 at-bats. The sophomore holds a .992 fielding percentage at catcher and has helped turn nine double plays on the year and allowed just two runners to steal on her on seven attempts.
• Lyons, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, has started all 53 games of the year at shortstop for the Sooners. She anchors the No. 1 defense in the country, holding a .975 fielding percentage and has turned 10 double plays to go with 60 assists, 55 putouts and just three errors. Equally impressive at the plate, Lyons has blasted 14 home runs in 2021 for fourth on the team in a locker room full of big bats. She's batting .422 on the year to go with 51 RBIs and 59 runs scored. The junior from Peoria, Ariz., has also hit 12 doubles on the year, good for second on the team.
#LAUNCHPAD
• The Sooner Club launched a fun, new and creative way to support OU student-athletes and the OU Softball and Baseball stadium projects by offering fans the opportunity to join the #LaunchPad. The #LaunchPad is all about #homers. Pledge to donate your own customized dollar amount for every #homer that OU Softball and/or OU Baseball hit in 2021!
• All donations are 100% tax deductible and will be directed to help fund the facility project of your choice - the new OU Softball Stadium Project and/or the OU Baseball Stadium Renovation Project.
• How It Works: Donate an amount to be charged per home run for softball and/or baseball for the 2021 season.
• Include if you'd like to make a gift for every home run hit in the 2021 season or start your pledge as of today.
• Watch the Sooners and cheer us on to victory while supporting future OU facility projects for baseball and softball.
• #Homers hit prior to your gift date will be included in your pledge. Monthly updates on the Pledge Per Home Run Campaign and other important Sooner Club information will be shared throughout the season.
• All donations from the Pledge Per Home Run Campaign will be treated as charitable donations supporting either the OU Softball Stadium Project or the OU Baseball Stadium Renovation Project and are tax-deductible.
• Payment Dates: Each month, we will charge your card on the first business day of the proceeding month for the amount you have elected to pledge per home run multiplied by the number of home runs in that month. (Monthly Payment Dates: Thursday, April 1, 2021; Monday, May 3, 2021; Tuesday, June 1, 2021; Thursday, July 1, 2021)
For updates and more information on Oklahoma softball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and like Oklahoma Softball on Facebook.
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