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5 Oklahoma Sooners earn NCAA All-Tournament team selections

John Williams
·3 min read
2

After an incredible run during the NCAA tournament, five Oklahoma Sooners were named to the All-Tournament team.

The tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, Jordy Bahl, is joined by battery mate Kinzie Hansen, second basemen Tiare Jennings and outfielders Jayda Coleman and Rylie Boone.

Only four teams were represented on the All-Tournament team, with the Sooners’ five leading the way. Florida State had three selections: Kathryn Sandercock, Kaley Mudge and Michaela Edenfield. Tennessee was represented by Kiki Milloy and Zaida Puni, and Stanford was represented by NiJaree Canady and Taylor Gindlesperger.

Here’s a look at what Oklahoma’s selections did during the NCAA tournament to earn their all-tournament team honors.

Jordy Bahl, P

Bahl was outstanding in the postseason, going 7-0 with one earned run allowed. She was 4-0 in the Women’s College World Series, allowing zero runs across 24.1 innings pitched.

Kinzie Hansen, C

Kinzie Hansen was arguably the Sooners’ best hitter throughout the tournament. She hit .466 (14-for-30) with 3 home runs and 13 RBIs. She was clutch throughout the tournament, including her three-run home run against Clemson to send the game to extra innings in the super regional.

Tiare Jennings, 2B

Oklahoma’s Tiare Jennings (23) hits a three-run home run in the second inning of a softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Tennessee in the Women’s College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Saturday, June 3, 2023.
Oklahoma’s Tiare Jennings (23) hits a three-run home run in the second inning of a softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Tennessee in the Women’s College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Tiare Jennings hit .361 in the tournament with five home runs and 13 RBIs. She set the mark for career RBIs in the Women’s College World Series.

Rylie Boone, LF

June 8, 2023; Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Sooners outfielder Rylie Boone (0) bunts in the third inning against the <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/teams/florida-st/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Florida State Seminoles;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Florida State Seminoles</a> during game two of the Women’s College World Series finals at OGE Energy Field at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex. Oklahoma won the game 3-1 and the national championship. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Rylie Boone was critical to several rallies throughout the tournament that led to game-tying or game-winning moments. Her role as the second lead-off hitter became a huge advantage for the Sooners. Boone hit .370 in the tournament and recorded a hit in every game but one, the opener against Hofstra.

Jayda Coleman, CF

June 8, 2023; Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Sooners outfielder Jayda Coleman (24) makes a catch at the wall in the third inning against the Florida State Seminoles during game two of the Women’s College World Series finals at OGE Energy Field at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex. Oklahoma won the game 3-1 and the national championship. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Jayda Coleman was 10-for-32 for a batting average of .312, but beyond what she did at the plate, her defense was otherworldly. There was the home run robbery and there was cutting down a play at second to prevent a double. She was robbed of a gold glove award, but put her elite defensive efforts on display in the tournament. Coleman’s at-bats against Stanford were critical to overcoming NiJaree Canady and helping Oklahoma advance.

Story originally appeared on Sooners Wire