On Friday, April 18, the number three ranked USAO softball team (39–7, 29–3 SAC) defeated Langston University (LU) (5–33, 4–26 SAC) in both of the final regular season home games. The Drovers swept all four games in the conference series, winning 9-8 and 10-2 on Thursday, followed by winning again on Friday 11-1 and 10-2. The second doubleheader was held on senior day, which celebrated the accomplishments of five graduating USAO softball players: right fielder Sierra Selfridge, pitcher Sophie Williams, first baseman Shaylann Grace, catcher Addison Willis, and designated player Triniti Cotanny.
Game one:
The first inning started the game favorably for USAO, as S. Williams recorded two strikeouts on the mound and left the Lions scoreless. The offense ignited early in the bottom half, when Selfridge tapped a single and scored K. Williams the first run, giving the lead to the Drovers. Sophomore catcher Leighanne Eaton grounded out to the LU first baseman, allowing junior shortstop Malea McMurtrey to reach home and put USAO ahead of LU 2-0.
Although neither team gave up runs in the second inning, S. Williams struck out a third batter to keep the Drovers ahead of the Lions.
The third inning saw an explosion of offense from six different USAO players. After S. Williams tossed her third strikeout, an LU batter singled and scored the first run for the Lions. A fourth strikeout from S. Williams then turned the bats over to the Drovers for a slugging rally. Eaton stepped up to the plate and smacked her fifth home run of the season, which earned her, designated player Selfridge, and McMurtrey complete trips across the diamond. Junior second baseman Jadyn Goucher followed with her eighth dinger of the season that scored her and Grace two runs. An error by the LU pitcher allowed junior third baseman Taygan Graham to touch home plate, insuring USAO an 8-1 lead.
The Drovers continued the batting firepower in the fourth inning. Grace batted her sixth homerun of the season for a triple RBI that caused her alongside junior pinch runners Ashlyn Turner and Maveryck Lightfoot to dash home one-by-one and put the USAO score in double digits at 11-1.
USAO locked the lead in the fifth inning by denying any scoring attempt from the Lions. Following a sixth strikeout thrown by S. Williams, a pop-up to McMurtrey and a grounded out ball caught by Goucher ended the game with an 11-1 mercy rule win for the Drovers.
Game two:
Both teams were scoreless in the first inning due to defensive action from both fields. After the second out on top, junior pitcher Abi Gregory stepped into the circle to relive S. Williams.
Grace kicked off the bottom of the second inning with her second dinger of the day, giving USAO the lead. After A. Willis scored Goucher the second run, an error by the third baseman and Graham stealing second earned A. Willis a trip home to put the Drovers 3-0 ahead of LU.
The third inning saw Gregory toss her first strikeout on the mound. Selfridge began the USAO batting lineup with her 14th homer of the season. Two doubles from Grace and Goucher allowed a run for junior pinch runner Isabela Portillo, building on to the lead at 5-0.
The Drovers continued to lead in the fourth inning, as a single RBI from McMurtrey scored for junior left fielder Jaylee Willis and the scoreboard now read 6-0.
A change of pace occurred in the fifth inning when three LU baserunners loaded the bases, then a ground out gave the first run to the Lions. The USAO batters were denied baserunning action but were still ahead 6-1.
As USAO still had the lead locked in the sixth inning, a fly out allowed LU to score a second run. The Drovers produced a scoring carousel at the plate starting with K. Williams tapping a single that brought A. Willis home, then two more swings from McMurtrey and Selfridge propelled Graham, McMurtrey and K. Williams one-by-one around the diamond with four uninterrupted runs. The game ended 10-2 with the Drovers capturing the second consecutive mercy rule victory of the day and a four-game series sweep.
The pitching staff of S. Williams and Gregory combined for a total of seven strikeouts, 11 hits, and four walks. S. Williams struck out the most batters at six, allowed six hits, and walked two batters. Gregory followed with one strikeout while she allowed five hits and walked two batters. S. Williams had the highest strike percentage at 69.8%, followed by Gregory with 56.4%. S. Williams pitched the most innings in the circle at 5.2, while Gregory pitched 5.1 innings.
McMurtrey led the batting lineup going five-for-six at the plate, with two hits leading to two runs. Following her was K. Williams, Selfridge and Grace with four hits each. Grace and McMurtrey scored the most runs with three each. As a team, the Drovers earned 21 runs across both games.
USAO will conclude the regular season with a four-game conference series in Kansas against Central Christian College (CCC) on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26. The first pitch for game one on Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m., followed by game two at 5 p.m. The trip will wrap up on Saturday with game one at noon and game two at 2 p.m.
Jordan Prewitt is a fifth-year English major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
