Drovers Outscore Lions 35-5 in Double-Header Sweep

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Monday afternoon, the No. 9 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (33-13, 23-7 SAC) extended their win-streak with a double-header sweep at Langston University (6-36, 3-27 SAC). The Drovers claimed a dominant 19-1 victory in the five-inning first game, followed by an exciting 16-4 win in the five-inning second game.

With the sweep, the Drovers are now 21-0 against the Lions all-time, dating back to February 19, 2014.

The Drovers remain in second place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, 3.0 games back of OCU, with two games remaining in the regular season.

-GAME 1-

The Drovers started the game with a bang, bringing across three runs in the top of the first inning. USAO extended the lead to 13-0 with five runs in the second inning, followed by seven more in the third. 

Langston scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the third, but Science & Arts responded with a pair of insurance runs in the fourth and fifth innings to stretch the lead to 19-1.

Sophie Williams was terrific in the circle as she improved her record to 16-6. Williams surrendered only one run on six hits, and she struck out seven batters in 5.0 innings of work. This season, the sophomore pitcher currently ranks first in the Sooner Athletic Conference in strikeouts (196), third in wins (16), and third in earned run average (1.46).

Offensively, the Drovers produced 15 hits, coming from 11 different players in the blowout victory. 

Jaycee Kievit, Sophie Williams, and Sierra Selfridge each recorded multiple hits, with Kievit leading the way with a trio of hits. Kievit concluded 3-4 with a double, a run scored, and a pair of runs batted in. Williams helped her own cause by going 2-4 with a pair of runs scored and four runs batted in, while Selfridge added a 2-3 performance that included two runs scored and a RBI.

Jaclyn Gray drove in five runs as she finished 1-3 with a homerun and two runs scored. 

Malea McMurtrey once again produced at a high volume, going 1-3 with a double, a pair of walks, four runs scored, and a run batted in. Tyler Trott launched her sixth homerun of the season as she went 1-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

Taygan Graham and Madelyn Blair each contributed a single, a run scored, and a run batted in. Jaylee Willis, Kamryn James, and Slater Eck each singled and scored in the win.

-GAME 2-

Science & Arts quickly took the lead, just as they did in game one, striking for four runs in the top of the first inning. However, Langston quickly cut the deficit to one with a trio of runs in the bottom of the first.

The Drovers continued to extend the lead as the game went on, scoring four runs in the second, two in the third, and five runs in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 15-3.

The Lions scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, followed by USAO scoring its final run in the top of the fifth.

Abi Gregory improved her record to 14-3 as she got the start for the Drovers in the circle and was then relieved by Lauryn Cottrell for 3.1 innings. Cottrell surrendered zero earned runs on six hits, while striking out three batters. Katelyn Trumbley struck out one batter in the scoreless fifth inning.

As a team, the Drovers compiled 18 hits, led by yet another incredible performance from Jaclyn Gray. Gray continued to boost her resume for SAC Player of the Year by going 4-4 with a double, three runs scored, and five runs batted in. Gray currently ranks first in the conference in homeruns (10), first in runs batted in (71), first in hits (64), first in slugging percentage (.791), third in doubles (14), and fifth in batting average (.432).

Sierra Selfridge and Taygan Graham each produced three hits in the win. Selfridge concluded 3-4 with a double, two runs scored, and a run batted in, while Graham went 3-3 with a run scored and four runs batted in.

Jaycee Kievit, Jaylee Willis, and Slater Eck each delivered a pair of singles. Kievit drove in one run, while Willis and Eck each scored a pair of runs. 

Madelyn Blair blasted a homerun in her only at bat of the game, and Isabela Portillo went 1-4 with a triple, a walk, three runs scored, and a run batted in. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers return home for Senior Night on Friday, April 28 as they close out the regular season with a double-header against Langston University. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM at Bill Smith Ballpark.

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