The Drovers softball team (13-2, 4-0 SAC) played a doubleheader against Peru State University (PSU) (2-10) Wednesday, Mar. 6. In Wednesday’s NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, USAO moved up four spots to #2 and is now one of two SAC teams in the Top 25.
“I was excited. This team deserves the world, and we are going to prove why we are ranked 2nd in the NAIA,” Jadyn Goucher, a sophomore second baseman, said on the team’s most recent ranking.
Game 1:
USAO’s junior pitcher Sophie Williams pitched her fourth career no-hitter in the first game. Williams struck out 14 consecutive Bobcat batters, which allowed her teammates to save their energy for the batter’s box. USAO’s offense had a slow start compared to their last few games, but in the bottom of the third, freshman catcher Leighanne Eaton doubled to the left side of the field with two outs. Goucher topped Eaton with a triple to score the second run of the game.
Shaylann Grace, a junior designated player, started off the bottom of the fourth with a ball over the wall for the third run of the game. Williams continued to defend her circle with an additional two strikeouts in the top of the fifth, but Casidy Sipek earned a walk to break Williams’s perfect game. The next batter popped up to the infield for the final out of the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Goucher knocked the ball around the park for her third homerun of the season and for the fourth run of the game. Junior first baseman Sierra Selfridge walked to first, and then Grace came back to the plate. She doubled with a ball to the right side of the field and advanced to third on the throw, while freshman pinch runner Kinzie Williams dashed home. Grace came home on a groundball from sophomore third baseman Taygan Graham to increase USAO’s lead to 6-0.
In the top of the sixth, Williams earned two more strikeouts and the third batter ground out. In the bottom of the inning, the Bobcats showed signs of life after the Drovers loaded the bases. Eaton came to the plate and sent a line drive to the second baseman who quickly turned to make the double play at first.
The Drovers took their six-run lead into the top of the seventh inning, where two batters struck out and one popped up. USAO finished the game with a 6-0 shutout victory.
Williams pitched the full seven innings, where she earned 18 strikeouts and allowed one walk. She faced 22 batters and threw 62 strikes out of 87 pitches. USAO’s offense backed her up as the team recorded two doubles, a triple, and two homeruns. Goucher and Grace led with two RBIs, followed by freshman leftfielder Jordan Ramsay and Graham with one. Ramsay also recorded one stolen base.
Game 2:
Game two started with PSU scoring their first and only run of the night after a single, double, and a wild pitch. The scoreboard did not see any changes until the bottom of the fourth. Goucher and Selfridge were walked in the bottom of the fourth inning, where USAO was trailing PSU 1-0.
Grace was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior catcher Addison Willis grounded out to second, which allowed Goucher to score and tie the game. Graham came to the plate next and laid down a shallow bunt, which scored two more Drovers while she distracted the Bobcats in a rundown between first and second. While USAO was now leading 3-1, they still had not recorded a hit in game two.
That was until senior centerfield Macenzie Ruth broke the no-hitter with a single up the middle. Sophomore shortstop Malea McMurtrey knocked the ball right over the PSU pitcher’s head to score Graham. The inning ended 5-1 in favor of the Drovers.
The fifth inning saw little action from either team, but USAO got back in the groove to score four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to enact the mercy rule. Grace was hit by a pitch and Willis singled to right field and advanced to second. Graham grounded out to score Grace and advance Willis to third.
Ramsay showcased her speed as she hit a low line drive right up the middle. The ball ducked under the glove of the diving centerfielder and hit the fence, and by the time the Bobcats recovered the ball, Ramsay was rounding third. She easily crossed home plate for the eighth run of the game. Ruth singled and stole second; McMurtrey singled and brought home Ruth for the final run of the game. USAO won their ninth game in a row with a score of 9-1.
Freshman pitcher Jayden Anderson stayed in the circle for the Drovers for six innings. She allowed one run on five hits; Anderson struck out seven batters and walked two. She faced 23 batters and threw 52 strikes across 85 pitches.
Graham led with three RBIs, McMurtrey and Ramsay earned two, and Willis picked up one. Ruth led with three stolen bases, McMurtrey followed with two and Goucher stole once.
“Our team motto is one game at a time, and we are prepared for this next conference series,” Goucher said after the games.
USAO will be on the road for a four-game series against Southern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) starting Friday, Mar. 8 at 1 p.m.
Emily Loughridge is a third-year communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
