Homeruns were hit and records were broken this weekend as USAO softball split with St. Gregory’s University Saturday, March 25.

Though USAO walked away from the double-header with only one win, third baseman Shania Beck walked away with a major accomplishment. Beck’s 27th homerun that soared right over the centerfield fence broke USAO’s school record of 26 career homeruns previously held by Kayla Adams who also holds the school record for RBIs with 132.

Adams played softball for USAO all four years of her college softball career and is now an assistant coach for the team. Though it was her record that was broken, she is proud to watch one of her own athletes and former teammates break it.

“It wasn’t bitter for me, I encouraged her to break my record my senior year when we were teammates,” said Adams. “It’s not the only record she will break before graduating. This is just the beginning of Shania’s legacy at USAO.”

Beck came to USAO as a small-town softball star with a .500-overall batting average and .659 on base percentage for the Pauls Valley Panthers, about an hour from USAO campus. Beck attended USAO right out of high school and debuted as a freshman with four homeruns, quickly making a name for herself as a Drover.

Beck broke the single-season homerun record with 13 home runs as a sophomore for the 2016 season, but she wasn’t quite satisfied. The team, including Adams, knew she could also beat the career record, it was only a matter of time. However, Beck didn’t expect it to happen against St. Gregory’s pitcher, Bryn Houlton.

“My powerhouse is the inside pitch and Bryn never really gives me the pitch because she knows,” said Beck. “She got me good off a change-up my second at-bat and I knew it wasn’t going to be a good day at the plate, but she left the second pitch down the middle and I sent it right back over center.”

Beck still has a season and a half left of playing time and is pushing herself to extend the record significantly before her career is over.

“Breaking the record felt great, but I’m trying not to pressure myself,” Beck said. “For the end of the season I want at least 30 career home runs. My ultimate goal is to break 40 before I graduate.”