#8 USAO Stretches Win Streak to a Dozen with a Pair of Run-Rule Victories Against WBU

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Thursday night, the No. 8 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (31-7, 20-2 SAC) continued their win streak with a pair of run-rule victories against Wayland Baptist University (22-12, 12-10 SAC). The Drovers opened the day with an 8-0 (5 inn.) win, followed by a dominant 10-0 (5 inn.) triumph in game two. With the wins, USAO improves to 12-0 against WBU in head-to-head matchups.

During USAO's 12-game win streak, they have outscored opponents 102-8. Furthermore, they have won their last 17 games against conference opponents, with 11 of those wins ending via the run-rule. In total, USAO has won 13 games this season via the run-rule (8+ run lead after 5 innings).

GAME 1

Leighanne Eaton immediately gave the Drovers an early lead with her seventh home run of the season. Additionally, it was the third game in a row in which Eaton hit a long ball.

USAO maintained the one-run lead until the fourth inning when they added three insurance runs. The Drovers put the game on ice in the bottom of the fifth with a four-run rally, punctuated by Aubree Ferguson driving in the winning run on a sacrifice fly to left field.

Ferguson once again dazzled in the circle, producing her 10^th shutout of the season.

Ferguson went all five- innings to improve her record to 15-2, allowing just three hits and struck out three batters. In 18 appearances this season, the sophomore has allowed an earned run in only three of those contests, and she currently ranks third in the NAIA in earned run average (0.59).

As a team, the Drovers offense produced six hits and reached on three walks, while the Pioneers tallied three hits and did not draw any walks. WBU committed three fielding errors, while USAO was unblemished on defense.

Leighanne Eaton continued to lead the offense as she reached the bases in all three trips to the plate, concluding 1-1 with a home run, two walks, three runs scored, and a run batted in.

Maddy Baber kept swinging a hot bat, going 2-3 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and three runs batted in.

Maveryck Lightfoot drove in a pair of runs as she went 1-3 with a double and a run scored. Lakelynn Thompson went 1-1 with a single and a walk, while Taylor Cronic went 1-2 with a double and a run scored.

GAME 2

The Drovers picked up where they left off and plated three runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a pair of RBI-doubles from Maddy Baber and Maveryck Lightfoot.

USAO added three more runs in the second, courtesy of a RBI-triple off the bat of Malea McMurtrey and RBI-singled from Leighanne Eaton and Maddy Baber.

After a scoreless third inning, the Drovers scored their final four runs, capped off by Maddy Baber's fourth homer of the year.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 10 hits and reached on three walks, while the Pioneers tallied two hits and drew four walks. WBU committed four fielding errors, while USAO was unblemished on defense.

Jayden Anderson got the start in the circle for USAO and improved her record to 6-0 this season. Anderson surrendered only two hits in the shutout, while striking out four batters.

In her career at USAO, Anderson has produced a 33-6 record and a 1.76 earned run average, while striking out 234 batters in 259.0 innings of work.

Batters two through five in USAO's lineup went a combined 9-10 and produced six extra base hits. Maddy Baber led the way, going 3-3 with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and four runs batted in. The junior from Petrolia, Texas is having a breakout season, having appeared in 23 games and has produced a .479 batting average with 34 hits, 14 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 20 runs scored and 30 runs batted in. She also leads the team with a staggering .901 slugging percentage.

Malea McMurtrey finished 2-3 with a triple, two runs scored, and two runs batted in, while Leighanne Eaton went 2-2 with a double, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.

Maveryck Lightfoot doubled in both of her trips to the plate and she scored once.

Jaylee Willis concluded 1-2 with a walk and a run batted in.

NAIA STAT RANKINGS

USAO OFFENSE

• 1st in triples (25)
• 2nd in runs (280)
• 3rd in extra base hits as a team (125)
• 3rd in doubles (77)
• 5th in slg% (.550)
• 7th in stolen bases (116)
• 11th in HR (23)

USAO PITCHING

• 1st in strikeouts (259)
• 2nd in wins (31)
• 4th in ERA (1.58)
• 4th in innings pitched (239.1)
• 10th in WHIP (1.12)

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers and Pioneers will conclude the 4-game series on Friday at Bill Smith Ballpark, beginning at 12:00 PM CT.

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