#3 USAO Opens Conference Play with Double-Header Sweep at WBU

PLAINVIEW, Texas. – Thursday evening, the No. 3 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (9-3, 2-0 SAC) opened conference-play with a double-header sweep at Wayland Baptist University (8-10, 2-4 SAC). The Drovers opened the day with a 3-0 victory, followed by a 4-2 triumph in the finale. With the wins, the Drovers improve to 6-0 against the Pioneers all-time. 

USAO has had arguably the most difficult schedule in the NAIA so far this season, with seven of their first twelve games coming against opponents ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Currently, the Drovers own a 4-3 record against ranked opponents, including wins against No. 4 Northwestern, No. 7 Cumberlands, No. 12 Hope International, and No. 17 Missouri Baptist.

USAO's three loses have been at the hands of No. 1 Southern Oregon, No. 2 Oregon Tech, and No. 4 Northwestern. 

GAME 1

The Drovers relied on pitching and defense to claim a 3-0 shutout victory in the series opener at Wayland Baptist.

After the game began with two scoreless innings, the Drovers claimed the first lead in the top of the third as Kinzie Williams drove in Malea McMurtrey with a double to center field. USAO extended the lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth as Sierra Selfridge drove in Jordan Ramsay with a single to left field. The Drovers took a 3-0 advantage in the top of the seventh, prior to slamming the door shut on the Pioneers in the bottom half of the inning.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced six hits and reached on one walk, while the Pioneers tallied only one hit and drew three walks. USAO was perfect on defense, while WBU committed three fielding errors. 

Sophie Williams got the start in the circle for USAO and was nearly unhittable, earning the complete-game shutout. Williams allowed just one hit and walked three batters, while striking out seven in 7.0 innings of work.

Six different Drovers tallied hits in the win. Malea McMurtrey contributed a 1-3 perfromance that included two runs scored and two stolen bases. Kinzie Williams concluded 1-4 with a double and a run batted in, while Sierra Selfridge went 1-4 with a single and a run batted in. Leighanne Eaton finished 1-3 with a double, and Shaylann Grace went 1-1 with a single. Taygan Graham went 1-3 with a single. 

GAME 2 

After trailing early in the second game of the day, the Drovers bounced back and came away with a 4-2 win.

WBU claimed an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning, but the Drovers would respond two innings later. USAO claimed the lead in the top of the third inning, bringing across a pair of runs courtesy of RBIs from Malea McMurtrey and Sierra Selfridge.

The Drovers extended the lead to 3-1 in the top of the fourth as Taygan Graham drove in Kamryn James on a single to center field. 

The Pioneers trimmed their deficit to 3-2 with a run in the bottom half of the fourth, but the Drovers regained a two-run lead in the top of the fifth on Kinzie Williams' inside the park home run.

USAO used strong pitching a defense to wrap up the win in the final two innings.

As a team, the Drovers offense generated nine hits and drew a pair of walks, while the Pioneers tallied five hits and drew three walks. USAO was perfect on defense, while WBU made two fielding errors.

Jayden Anderson got the start in the circle for USAO and earned her third win of the season as she delivered 4.0 innings of work, allowing two runs on three hits and she struck out four batters. Aubree Ferguson pitched the final 3.0 scoreless innings and earned her first collegiate save. Ferguson allowed only two hits and struck out two batters.

USAO's offense was led by a pair of two-hit performances from Kinzie Williams and Jordan Ramsay. Williams concluded 2-4 with a solo-homer and two stolen bases, while Ramsay went 2-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. 

Malea McMurtrey and Sierra Selfridge each singled and drove in a run. Taygan Graham went 1-2 with a walk and a run batted in, while Leighanne Eaton went 1-2 with a walk. Ashlyn Turner went 1-3 with a single. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers and Pioneers will conclude the four-game series at Wayland Baptist University with another double-header on Friday (March 7) in Plainview, Texas. First pitch of the double-header is scheduled for 2:00 PM CT, followed by a 4:00 PM CT start time for game two. 

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