USAO’s softball team (12-6, 2-0 SAC), ranked third, hosted their last non-conference double-header Monday evening against the Benedictine Ravens (7-7, 0-0 HAAC).

The first game started rather slow as neither team scored before the fourth inning. In a game where both teams are struggling offensively, a single run can be huge for momentum going forward for the rest of the game. The Drovers scored two runs in the fourth inning, ending the three-inning drought of runs from both teams. The first run came off a triple from Sierra Selfridge, leading to a run from Jadyn Goucher. The second run came off a single from Jaycee Kievit which led to a run from Selfridge.

With a 2-0 lead it felt like the Drovers had the momentum going into the fifth inning. That wasn’t quite the case and the fifth inning saw a single run and it came from the opposing Ravens. The Drovers and Ravens both scored in the sixth inning, Benedictine briefly took a 3-2 lead until Jaclyn Gray, the SAC’s player of the week, hit a homerun to tie the game at 3-3, neither team scored in the seventh inning which sent the teams into extra innings. The eighth inning left both teams knotted at three runs each. The Ravens found their bats and scored two runs at the top of the ninth inning due to error from USAO. The Drovers didn’t have enough to come back and handed over game one to the Ravens.

Despite the loss, Sophie Williams had a great game as she struck nine batters out in nine innings. In her time at the rubber, Williams allowed five runs off eight hits and only two of the runs were earned. Of her 140 pitches thrown, Williams placed 102 of the balls within the strike zone.

The second game the Drovers looked to even the series and they did just that. USAO’s pitcher, Abi Gregory threw her second no-hitter in her first season in consecutive games.  The Drovers scored their first run at the top of the first inning of an error. The next two runs came in the bottom of the third inning, one of them coming from Macenzie Ruth, who scored off a pass ball, and the other from Malea McMurtrey, who crossed home plate after Goucher grounded out to the shortstop. Gray found her rhythm at the plate to earn herself a triple in the second game.

Gregory, the SAC’s pitcher of the week, struck out nine batters in six innings. She threw 111 pitches, 63 of which were strikes.

USAO played Southwestern Christian University (SCU) Tuesday, March 7th, in which the Drovers came away with two shut-out games. Tuesday’s double-header gave the Drovers their first two conference wins. The Drovers will be back in Chickasha Friday, March 10th, for another double-header against the Eagles. The first pitch will be thrown at 4 p.m. and the second game will follow.

Preston Palm is a second-year Communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.