Coach Wallis Reaches 600 Career Wins as #7 USAO Completes Historic Sweep Against #2 OCU

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Saturday afternoon, the No. 7 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (41-7, 30-2 SAC) extended their win streak to 22 as they completed the four-game sweep against No. 2 Oklahoma City University (37-7, 26-4 SAC). The Drovers began the day with a 2-1 win, followed by a commanding 7-1victory in the series finale.

Friday night, the Drovers opened the series with a dominant 9-2 win, followed by a 10-0 run-rule triumph in game two.

With the sweep, the Drovers have won eight of the last ten meetings against the Stars, including USAO's current six-game win streak against OCU. The rivals have faced each other 42 times since the start of the 2018 season, with the Drovers improving to 23-19 in that span. In total, the Drovers are now 27-48 against the Stars all-time, dating to 2008.

During USAO's current 22-game win streak, they have outscored opponents 168-18. Furthermore, they have won their last 27 games against conference opponents, with 15 of those wins ending via the run-rule. In total, USAO has won 17 games this season via the run-rule (8+ run lead after 5 innings).

With four games remaining in the regular season, USAO sits at the top of the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, two games ahead of OCU. Additionally, the Drovers now own the tie-breaker against the Stars, meaning USAO can clinch their second consecutive SAC regular season championship with two wins against MACU next weekend.

COACH WALLIS JOINS THE 600-WIN CLUB

The win in the series finale was the 600^th career victory for USAO head coach Jadyn Wallis.

14th Season – 600-166 record – .783 win percentage

• 2018 NAIA National Championship

• 3rd place finishes at the NAIA Softball World Series (2019, 2022, 2024)

• 2018 NAIA National Coach of the Year award

• 5x SAC Coach of the Year (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025)

• 7x SAC Champion

• 9x NAIA National Tournament appearances

• 4x 50-win seasons

• 10x 40-win seasons

Under her direction, the program has produced three NAIA Pitcher of the Year awards, one NAIA National

Championship MVP, three SAC Player of the Year award winners, nine SAC Pitcher of the Year award

winners, 105 All-SAC selections, and 23 NAIA All-Americans.

In the Summer of 2023, Wallis added another impressive feat to her resume as she became the first

pitching coach in the history of the OKC Spark, of the Women's Professional Fastpitch league.

Additionally, one of her former players, Emily Cerny, became the first former NAIA player to ever appear in

the WPF, playing alongside some of the game's greatest players in the world.

Wallis, a native of Newcastle, and played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma under legendary

coach Patty Gasso. Wallis pitched for the Sooners from 2005-2008 where she had a career record of 9-4

in 57 appearances, with 10 starts. She pitched a total of 110.1 innings and struck out 84 batters. The

Sooners as a team combined for a 192-60 record (.773) winning percentage) during that time.

GAME 1

Saturday's first game began with a pair of scoreless innings, prior to the Drovers scoring both of their runs in the bottom of the third. Kinzie Williams drove in a run with a single, followed by a run batted in by Leighanne Eaton.

Oklahoma City's only run came in the top of the sixth inning, but it was not enough to avoid the loss.

Aubree Ferguson got the start in the circle and went all seven innings to improve her record to 20-2 this season, allowing one run on six hits and struck out five batters. In 23 appearances this season, the sophomore has allowed an earned run in only five of those contests, and she currently ranks second in the NAIA in earned run average (0.61). Her 20 wins rank fifth in the NAIA.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced five hits and reached on two walks, while the Stars tallied six hits and drew two walks. Both teams committed a pair of fielding errors. USAO stole four bases on the basepaths, and the Stars swiped two bases.

USAO's offense was led by Maddy Baber's two-hit outing. Baber continued to swing a hot-bat, going 2-3 with a pair of singles. Kinzie Williams singled, scored, stole three bases, and drove in a run.

Malea McMurtrey and Lilyana Portillo each singled in the win. Jordan Ramsay walked, stole a base, and scored.

GAME 2

After a scoreless first inning, the Drovers captured the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. USAO rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third, followed by their final two runs in the fifth.

OCU scored their only run in the top of the seventh, just before USAO closed out the series.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced six hits and reached on three walks, while the Stars produced five hits and zero walks. OCU committed one fielding error, while USAO was unblemished on defense.

Jayden Anderson got the start in the circle and went all seven innings to improve to 10-0 this season. Anderson surrendered one run on five hits, and she struck out two batters.  In her career at USAO, the jumior improves her record to 37-6, along with a 1.67 earned run average, while striking out 256 batters in 285.1 innings of work.

USAO's offense was led by a pair of two-hit performances from Lilyana Portillo and Maddy Baber. Portillo concluded 2-2 with a double, two runs scored, and a run batted in. Baber finished 2-3 with a run scored, a run batted in, and two stolen bases.

Malea McMurtrey singled and scored twice, while Kinzie Williams singled, stole once, and scored once.

Maveryck Lightfoot drove in a pair of runs, and Savannah Senkel drove in one run.

NAIA STAT RANKINGS

USAO OFFENSE

• 2^nd in triples (26)
• 3^rd in extra base hits (154)
• 2^nd in doubles (100)
• 2^nd in stolen bases (165)
• 4^th in runs (346)
• 4^th in hits (464)
• 7^th in slg% (.539)
• 12^th in batting avg. (.357)
• 23^rd in HR (28)

USAO PITCHING

• 1^st in strikeouts (322)
• 1^st in wins (41)
• 2^nd in ERA (1.48)
• 5^th in innings pitched (303.1)
• 9^th in WHIP (1.09)

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will conclude the regular season next weekend (April 24-25) as they host a pair of double headers against Mid-America Christian University at Bill Smith Ballpark.

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