#8 USAO Extends Win-Streak to Nine with Sweep Against Central Christian

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Saturday afternoon, the No. 8 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (18-6, 8-0 SAC) concluded the four-game weekend with another double-header sweep against Central Christian College (7-17, 3-9 SAC). The Drovers opened the day with an impressive 8-0 victory, followed by a 4-2 triumph in the second game.

With the pair of wins, Science & Arts improves to 20-0 all-time against Central Christian, a series which dates back to March 2018. In those 20 games against the CCC, the Drovers have outscored the Tigers by a wide margin of 187-18.

-GAME 1-

After neither team was able to score in the first inning, the Drovers took the lead with one run in the bottom of the second inning. 

Science & Arts added on three more runs an inning later and remained in a 4-0 lead until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Drovers brought in four runs to end the game early due to the "mercy rule".

Sophie Williams continued to dominate in the circle, as she delivered a one-hit shutout. Williams struck out eight batters in 5.0 innings, improving her record to 8-3.

As a team, the Drovers tallied 11 hits, coming from six different players. Jaclyn Gray and Macenzie led the way with a pair of three-hit performances. Gray delivered an incredible performance as she went 3-4 and fell a single short of recording from recording a cycle, with a double, a triple, a homerun, and two runs batted in.

Ruth concluded 3-4 with a triple and two runs scored. Malea McMurtrey finished 2-4 with a run scored and a run batted in.

Sierra Selfridge, Jaylee Willis, and Sophie Williams each singled in the win.

-GAME 2-

The Tigers got off to a hot start and brought a pair of runs across in the top of the first inning, but the Drovers immediately responded with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

The score remained tied at 2-2 until the bottom of the third inning, when USAO scored a couple runs to take a 4-2 lead.

The Drovers used strong pitching and defense to wrap up the victory in the final innings of the series.

Abi Gregory got the start in the circle and delivered yet another strong performance. Gregory improved her record to 10-2 as she allowed only one earned run on six hits, and she struck out 11 batters.

The Drovers were only able to manage four hits as a team, two of which came from Malea McMurtrey. McMurtrey finished 2-3 with a triple, two runs scored, and one run batted in. 

Macenzie Ruth concluded 1-3 with a pair of stolen bases, and a run scored. Sierra Selfridge went 1-2 with a single.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will return to action at Bill Smith Ballpark on Tuesday, March 21 as they host a double-header against No. 6 ranked Oklahoma City University. First pitch of the double-header is scheduled for 4:00 PM.

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