Drovers Extend Win Streak with Double-Header Sweep Against Langston

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Thursday evening, the No. 3 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (37-7, 27-3 SAC) claimed a pair of wins against Langston University (5-31, 4-24 SAC). The Drovers began the series with a dramatic 9-8 extra-inning victory, followed by a dominant 10-2 run-rule triumph in game two.

With the sweep, the Drovers improve to 28-0 against the Lions all-time, dating to February 2014.

The Drovers currently sit atop the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, 2.0 games ahead of No. 6 ranked Oklahoma City University. The top eight teams in the SAC standings advance to the conference tournament, which will take place at USAO and OCU from May 1-3. 

Through 44 games this season, USAO has tallied 10 or more hits on 21 different occasions, and they have earned 14 wins via the run-rule. The pitching staff has also been terrific, producing a 2.07 earned run average with 240 strikeouts in 284.0 innings. Furthermore, USAO has held opponents to a .216 batting average, while the Drovers offense owns a .351 average at the dish. 

GAME 1

The Drovers jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in game one, but saw that lead quickly evaporate late in the contest, as the Lions forced the game into extras. USAO held Langston scoreless in the top of the eighth, prior to scoring the winning run in the bottom half of the inning to cling to a 9-8 win.

The Drovers pushed across three runs in the bottom of the first inning, followed by one run in each of the next three innings to hold a 6-0 advantage. The Lions cut their deficit in half with three runs in the top of the fifth, followed by a pair of runs for USAO in the bottom of the fifth. 

USAO took an 8-3 lead into seventh inning, when Langston rallied for five runs to pull the score even and forced the game into extras. Kinzie Williams drove in the game-winning run for USAO in the bottom of the eighth inning.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 13 hits and drew three walks, while the Lions tallied 10 hits and five free passes. LU committed a trio of fielding errors, while USAO's defense suffered two miscues on defense.  

Sophie Williams got the start in the circle and pitched 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and she struck out nine batters. Gabby Toquothty made a brief appearance, prior to being relieved by Jayden Anderson for the final 1.2 innings to earn the win. Anderson did not allow a run, and she surrendered only one hit while striking out two batters.

USAO's offense was led by five multi-hit performances, including Kinzie Williams' 4-5 showing. Williams delivered a triple, a run scored, and a pair of runs batted in. Sophie Williams helped her own cause by going 2-2 with a double, a walk, a run scored, and two runs batted in, while Maveryck Lightfoot went 2-2 with a run scored and two runs batted in. 

Leighanne Eaton went 2-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Shaylann Grace went 2-4 with a pair of runs scored and a run batted in.

Taygan Graham finished 1-1 with a walk and a run scored.  

GAME 2 

The Drovers were in full control of game two, invigorated by a poor performance in the series opener, and cruised to a 10-2 run-rule victory. 

USAO plated one run in the bottom of the first inning, prior to a six-run outburst in the second, highlighted by back-to-back-to-back homers from Malea McMurtrey, Sierra Selfridge, and Shaylann Grace. 

Langston scored their only two runs in the top of the third inning, but the Drovers immediately answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. USAO held the Lions scoreless in the final two innings to wrap up the win.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 14 hits and drew one walk, while the Lions were held to only five hits, and zero free pass. LU committed three fielding errors and USAO was perfect defensively.  

Jayden Anderson got the start in the circle and improved her record to 10-3 this season as she went all 5.0 innings, surrounding two runs on five hits and she struck out five batters.  

The Drover offense was led by five multi-hit performances, including Sierra Selfridge going 3-3 with her 13^thhomer of the season, in addition to two runs scored and four runs batted in. Malea McMurtrey concluded 2-3 with her first career home run, along with two runs batted in. Shaylann Grace launched her fifth long ball of the season as she went 2-2 with a walk. 

Kinzie Williams continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-3 with a pair of runs scored and a run batted in. Taygan Graham was perfect at the dish, going 2-2 with a pair of runs scored. 

Jadyn Goucher went 1-3 with a run batted in and Ashlyn Turner went 1-3. Triniti Cotanny singled in her only at bat of the game. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will quickly return to action on tomorrow (April 18) another double-header against Langston University. Friday's twin bill will begin at 4:00 PM CT at Bill Smith Ballpark, and the Senior Night ceremony will take place between games one and two.   

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