Three Named Player of the Year Top-10 Finalists

NORMAN — Three Oklahoma softball student-athletes were named top 10 finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the organization announced the list Wednesday.

Juniors Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings and sophomore Jordy Bahl combined for the most representatives from one school. Oklahoma leads the way with three of the 10 finalists while UCLA and Tennessee are second with two athletes represented.

OU's three finalists ties a program high for the USA Softball Top 10 list, while the Sooners have had at least two top-10 finalists for five straight seasons, including three each of the past two seasons.

It marks Bahl and Jennings second time being top 10 finalists and first for Coleman.

Bahl has paced OU's nation-leading pitching staff with a 1.06 ERA and 130 strikeouts, allowing opponents to bat just .156. The reigning NFCA Freshman of the Year and First Team All-American has a team-best six individual shutouts in 2023 and has combined on nine. Bahl has also thrown one perfect game on the year and combined on two no-hitters

Coleman has showcased her versatility once again in 2023, adding power numbers to her already expansive game. The two-time NFCA First Team All-American has a team-high 13 home runs and .454 batting average among numerous other categories to go with a .862 slugging clip and .575 on-base percentage. Her batting, slugging and on-base percentages rank in the top 10 in the country.

Jennings has continued to bring in runs for the Sooners, mashing 12 home runs and 10 doubles with a team-high 49 runs batted in. The 2021 USA Softball Top-10 Finalist is batting .435 and holds slugging and on-base percentages of .786 and .506, respectively.

A Sooner has won the award four times in the last 10 seasons, including the past two seasons with Jocelyn Alo going back-to-back in 2021 and 2022. Keilani Ricketts claimed OU's other two, also winning in consecutive seasons in 2012 and 2013.

The Top 3 Finalists will be revealed on Wednesday, May 17, followed by the announcement of the 2023 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year prior to the NCAA Women's College World Series slated for June 1-9 at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex.

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