#9 USAO Wins Pair at OPSU to Stretch Win Streak to Eight

GOODWELL, Okla. – Friday afternoon, the No. 9 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (27-7, 16-2 SAC) extended their win streak to eight with a double header sweep on the road at Oklahoma Panhandle State University (5-27, 3-15 SAC). The Drovers opened the day with an 8-1win, followed by an 8-3 triumph in the second game. With the wins, USAO improves to 37-2 against OPSU in head-to-head matchups.

GAME 1

The Drovers immediately put their foot on the gas and did not let up, scoring once in the top of the first, followed by three more in the second.

USAO stretched the lead to 7-0 in the top of the fifth, before OPSU scored their only run in the sixth. The Drovers added one final insurance run in the seventh before finishing off the Aggies in the bottom half of the inning.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 12 hits and reached on four walks, while the Aggies tallied three hits and drew four walks. OPSU committed one fielding error, while USAO was unblemished on defense.

Aubree Ferguson was stellar in the circle, to improve her record to 13-2 this season. Ferguson went 5.2innings, allowing just three hits and struck out five batters. In 16 appearances this season, the sophomore has allowed an earned run in only three of those contests, and she currently ranks fourth in the NAIA in earned run average (0.66).

Gabby Toquothty pitched the final 1.1 scoreless innings and struck out two batters.

USAO's offense was led by a trio of multi-hit performances from Malea McMurtrey, Kenzie Williams, and Maveryck Lightfoot. McMurtrey finished 3-4 with a triple and two runs batted in. Williams concluded 2-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Lightfoot went 2-3 with a walk and three runs scored.

Lakelynn Thompson went 1-2 with a double and a run scored. Jordan Ramsay concluded 1-3 with a walk and a run batted in, while Taylor Cronic went 1-3 with a run scored and two runs batted in.

Maddy Baber singled, scored, and drove in a run. Aubree Ferguson went 1-3 at the plate to help her own cause in the circle.

GAME 2

The Drovers used a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to take an early advantage. Following a scoreless second inning, the Aggies cut their deficit in half with one run in the bottom of the third.

USAO got some separation in the fifth, rallying for four runs, highlighted by a two-run double from Leighanne Eaton.

OPSU trimmed their deficit to 6-2 with a run in the bottom of the fifth. In the top of the seventh, Maddy Baber drove in a pair of insurance runs with a single. The Aggies scored one run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late to avoid the sweep.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 10 hits and reached on three walks, while the Aggies tallied seven hits and drew three walks. Both teams committed a pair of fielding errors.

Keylee Beckwith improved her record to 5-1 as she went 4.0 innings, allowing zero earned runs on four hits, and she struck out four batters. Lakelynn Thompson earned her first save of the season as she pitched the final 3.0 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits, and she struck out seven batters.

USAO's offense was led by Leighanne Eaton's three-hit performance. Eaton concluded 3-3 with two doubles and three runs batted in. Eaton currently ranks second in the NAIA with 46 runs batted in.

Maddy Baber went 2-4 with a pair of runs batted in, while Maveryck Lightfoot went 2-4 with a run scored.

Malea McMurtrey finished 1-2 with a pair of walks, three runs scored, and a run batted in.

Kinzie Williams went 1-3 with a triple, a walk, and a pair of runs scored. Williams leads the NAIA with nine triples this season and has hit more three-baggers than 74 TEAMS.

Taylor Cronic singled, scored, and drove in a run.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers and Aggies will conclude the series on Saturday (March 28) at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM CT in Goodwell, Okla.

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