On Saturday, March 29, the number three ranked USAO softball team (24-6, 14-2 SAC) defeated the Mid-America Christian University (MACU) Evangels (13-13, 9-7 SAC) twice on the second day of the conference bout in Oklahoma City. The Drovers swept all four games in the series, winning 11-2 and 9-1 on Friday, followed by winning again 8-2 and 3-2 on Saturday.
Game one:
Neither team saw any baserunning in the first two innings. Senior pitcher Sophie Williams and MACU pitcher Chana Wolfe struck out two batters each, leaving the game scoreless without action.
The defensive stalemate stopped in the third inning, as USAO gained the upper hand. After junior shortstop Jadyn Goucher advanced to third on a passed ball, junior third baseman Taygan Graham used a sacrifice fly to score the first run for the Drovers. On the mound, S. Williams shut down two more batters to lock the lead at 1-0.
The fourth inning saw another show of offense from the USAO batters. Sophomore catcher Leighanne Eaton swung a single, followed by another single from senior first baseman Shaylann Grace, earning centerfielder Jordan Ramsay and Eaton two more runs ahead of MACU. S. Williams kept the Evangel batters stuck on the plate with two more strikeoutsas the Drovers lead 3-0.
A change of pace occurred in the fifth inning although the Drovers were still ahead of the Evangels. After Eaton, senior designated player Sierra Selfridge, and sophomore right fielder Kinzie Williams loaded the bases, Grace batted in her third run. However, the Evangels managed to load the bases in the bottom of the inning. A wild pitch followed by a sacrifice fly put two runs for MACU on the scoreboard, loosening the margin to 4-2.
USAO made an offensive highlight in the sixth inning after sophomore left fielder Taylor Cronic, junior second baseman Maveryck Lightfoot, and junior pinch runner Jaylee Willis stacked the diamond. Selfridge stepped to the plate and smacked a four-run grand slam and her 11th dinger of the season, bringing all four players across home base with USAO leading 8-2.
As both teams continued battling each other in defense without giving up a run in the seventh inning, S. Williams delivered her final strikeout to end the game 8-2 for USAO.
Game two:
Another defensive standoff began saw the first two innings remain scoreless, with each pitcher striking out three batters from the opposing team.
Both teams started to show action on offense in third inning. USAO took the lead when a throwing error by the MACU shortstop allowed Selfridge to reach first, allowing Cronic to reach home and score the first run for the Drovers. The Evangels responded during the bottom of the inning with a MACU batter singling to right centerfield to bring a runner home, followed by a baserunner stealing home to take the lead 2-1 over USAO.
The fourth inning began with Grace smacking her third homer of the season to tie the game at two runs. Graham hit a sacrifice fly which allowed Goucher to reach home and put the Drovers ahead of the Evangels at a 3-2 lead. The USAO defense kept the score in place as they denied the MACU baserunners any further attempts at touching home.
The final three innings consisted of USAO holding on to the lead, as the precise fielding plays denied a scoring opportunity on either side. Sophomore pitcher Gabby Toquothty subbed for junior pitcher Abi Gregory on the mound in the seventh inning, then a flyout to Ramsay closed the game on a 3-2 victory and a four game sweep for the Drovers.
The pitching staff of S. Williams, Gregory, and Toquothty combined for eleven strikeouts, nine hits, and eight walks. S. Williams struck out the most batters at eight and allowed three hits. Gregory followed with three strikeouts while she allowed six hits and walked three batters, and Toquothty walked one batter. S. Williams had the highest strike percentage with 58.8%, followed by Gregory with 53.2% and Toquothty with 35.7%. S. Williams pitched the most innings in the circle at 7.0, while Gregory pitched 6.0 and Toquothty pitched 1.0 innings.
Grace led the batting lineup going five-for-seven at the plate, with five hits leading to four runs. Following Grace were Eaton and Goucher with three hits each. Goucher and Cronic scored the most runs with two each. As a team, the Drovers earned 11 runs across both games.
USAO will play a conference doubleheader on the road against Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) Monday, March 31. The first pitch for game one is scheduled for noon, then the game will wrap up with game two at 2 p.m.
Jordan Prewitt is a fifth-year English major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
