She’s had a remarkable run at second base during her career with the Oklahoma Sooners, but [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] has found a new home.
Meeting with the media on Monday ahead of this week’s season opener in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] revealed that her All-American second baseman will be sliding over to shortstop for 2024.
Replacing [autotag]Grace Lyons[/autotag], the game’s best defender for the last several seasons, is no small task. Though she’s been mostly known for her work at the plate, Jennings has been phenomenal at second base during Oklahoma’s three consecutive national championship runs.
Jennings has a career fielding percentage of .982 after posting a career-high .992 in 2023, a season in which she had just one error. She’s been as steady as they come at second base while combining with Lyons to form a deadly double-play duo the last several seasons.
While we have an answer for shortstop, the question moves to who will take over at second base. Gasso plans to platoon [autotag]Avery Hodge[/autotag], [autotag]Quincee Lilio[/autotag], and [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] at that spot for the time being.
Hodge has made her mark as a pinch runner during her time with the Sooners, flashing her speed to put pressure on opposing defenses. Lilio has been a reliable bench piece for the Sooners, hitting .275 with a home run and nine RBIs in 40 plate appearances in 2023. Torres was the Sooners’ everyday right fielder in 2023 and hit .350 with two home runs and 23 RBIs last year. She has experience playing in the infield from her time at Arizona State and has a career fielding percentage of .944.
The Oklahoma Sooners will begin their title defense this weekend with a series in Puerto Vallarta vs. Utah Valley, No. 9/11 Duke, No. 10/7 Washington, and Long Beach State.
Oklahoma enters the season riding a 53-game winning streak.
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