#4 USAO Advances to Eighth Consecutive SAC Tournament Championship Game with 27th Shutout of the Season
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Southwestern Christian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
|
Science and Arts | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 4 | 9 | 0 |
CHICKASHA, Okla. – Friday afternoon, the No. 1 seeded University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (47-8, 33-3 SAC) advanced to their eighth consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament championship game with a 4-0 shutout against No. 5 seed Southwestern Christian University (29-21, 18-18 SAC). With the win, the Drovers improve to 55-2 against the Eagles in head-to-head matchups all-time.
Prior to the SAC tournament, USAO won the regular season championship for the second year in a row (2004, 2019, 2025, 2026), and they look to claim their fourth consecutive SAC Tournament crown, having previously won in 2015, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
In the 2026 SAC Tournament so far, the Drovers have outscored their opponents 20-0 and have out-hit their opponents 32-5.
The Drovers held the Eagles scoreless in the top of the first inning, before plating a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. USAO stretched the advantage to 3-0 in the second as Jordan Ramsay drove in Aubree Ferguson. Lexie Lovelace drove in USAO's final run in the bottom of the fifth.
As a team, the Drovers offense produced nine hits and drew one walk, while the Eagles tallied three hits and drew two walks. SCU committed one fielding error, while USAO was perfect on defense. USAO stole six bases on the basepaths, and while Leighanne Eaton gunned down SCU's only stolen base attempt.
Aubree Ferguson got the start in the circle and went all seven innings to improve her record to 24-2 this season. USAO's ace dealt her 17th shutout of the season. Ferguson struck out seven batters in the dazzling performance.
In 27 appearances this season, the sophomore has allowed an earned run in only five of those contests, and she currently ranks first in the NAIA in earned run average (0.50). Her 25 wins rank fourth in the NAIA.
The USAO offense was led by a trio of two-hit performances from Leighanne Eaton, Maveryck Lightfoot, and Lexie Lovelace. Eaton concluded 2-3 with a run batted in and now ranks fourth in the NAIA in runs batted in this season (77). Lightfoot finished 2-3 with a pair of singles and Lovelace went 2-3 with a run batted in.
Aubree Ferguson helped her own cause by going 1-3 with a double and a run scored. Jordan Ramsay singled and drove in a run in her only at bat of the game. Malea McMurtrey went 1-3 with a single and a run scored.
NAIA STAT RANKINGS
USAO OFFENSE
- 1st in triples (30)
- 2nd in stolen bases (195)
- 3rd in doubles (109)
- 4th in extra base hits (169)
- 5th in runs (381)
- 5th in hits (523)
- 8th in slg% (.529)
- 11th in batting avg. (.354)
USAO PITCHING
- 1st in wins (47)
- 2nd in ERA (1.30)
- 2nd in strikeouts (361)
- 5th in WHIP (1.06)
- 5th in innings pitched (349.1)
WHAT'S NEXT?
On Saturday (May 2), the Drovers will host No. 2 seed Oklahoma City University in the SAC Tournament championship game for the eighth year in a row. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM CT at Bill Smith Ballpark.
Since 2018, USAO has won the tournament four times, and Oklahoma City has won it three times.
• Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Championships: 2015, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 (5)
• Sooner Athletic Conference Regular Season Championships: 2004, 2019, 2025, 2026 (4)
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