#6 USAO Completes Weekend Sweep in Texas

MESQUITE, Texas – Saturday afternoon, the No. 6 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (4-0, 0-0 SAC) concluded the opening weekend of the season with their second consecutive double-header sweep at the SCS NAIA Invitational. The Drovers began the day with an emphatic 14-0 victory against Oklahoma Wesleyan University, followed by a thrilling 4-3 triumph against Missouri Baptist University in the finale. 

-GAME 1 vs OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY-

USAO used a terrific start to gain momentum and proceeded to cruise to a dominant 14-0 victory in the first game of the day.

The Drovers took an early lead with one run in the first, followed by two more in the second to take a 3-0 lead into the third. USAO doubled their lead as they rallied for a trio of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Already holding a 6-0 lead entering the bottom of the fourth, the Drover offense powered their way to eight runs, highlighted by Leighanne Eaton's and Addison Willis' first homeruns of the season. 

Sophie Williams got the start in the circle for USAO and delivered 4.0 shutout innings, prior to being relieved by Jayden Anderson for a scoreless fifth inning. Williams earned her second win of the season and struck out 10 batters while only allowing 1 hit. Anderson struck out two batters in her perfect inning of work. 

The Drover offense produced 13 hits in total, led by five multi-hit performances. Addison Willis had the best game of her USAO career, going 2-2 with a double, a homerun, two runs scored, and five runs batted in. Leighanne Eaton concluded 2-3 with a double, a homer, two runs scored, and three runs batted in. Sophie Williams helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-3 with a double, a run scored, and a trio of RBIs. Malea McMurtrey and Macenzie Ruth each finished 2-3 with a double and two runs scored. McMurtrey also drove in a run. 

Jadyn Goucher went 1-2 with a double, a run scored, and a RBI, while Sierra Selfridge went 1-1 with a pair of walks and a pair of runs. Jordan Ramsay concluded 1-3 with a run batted in. Shaylann Grace walked twice and scored twice. 

-GAME 2 vs MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY-

Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard until the top of the fourth inning, when MBU managed to bring a couple runs across the plate. USAO was able to cut the deficit in half with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Drovers kept momentum going with a trio of runs in the bottom of the fifth to claim a 4-2 lead. MBU scored once in the top of the sixth, but it was too little, too late for the Spartan's.

Abi Gregory got the start in the circle for USAO and pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, prior to being relieved by Jayden Anderson in the third. Anderson surrendered a pair of runs before being relieved by Sophie Williams after 1.1 innings. Williams improved her record to 3-0 as she pitched the final 3.1 innings, allowing no earned runs and no hits, while striking out eight batters.

USAO produced six hits, while holding MBU to five, but the Drovers committed two fielding errors, compared to the Spartan's one error.

Macenzie Ruth and Malea McMurtrey were productive at the top of the batting order, with each player going 1-3 at the plate with a run scored and a run batted in. Sierra Selfridge concluded 1-3 with a double and a run scored, while Jadyn Goucher went 1-3 with a run batted in. Addison went 1-2 with a run scored and Sophie Williams helped her own cause by going 1-3 at the dish. Shaylann Grace drove in one run on a sacrifice fly.

-ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM-

JAYDEN ANDERSON – 

Anderson began her collegiate career with a bang, setting a new program record with a 19-strikeout victory against Tabor College. The freshman went 1-0 and pitched a total of 10.1 innings. Anderson only surrendered two runs and three hits, while striking out 23 batters and concluded with a 1.35 earned run average.

LEIGHANNE EATON – 

Eaton was one of USAO's most powerful hitters, going 2-12 with a double, a homerun, two runs scored, and four runs batted in.

MACENZIE RUTH – 

Ruth produced the team's best batting average of the weekend, going 7-14 (.500), in addition to a double, five runs scored, and a run batted in. The speedster also stole four bases and now has a career total of 124, which ranks second in program history, behind Shyla Clouse with 128.

JADYN GOUCHER – 

Goucher went 3-12 at the plate with a double, a run scored, and four runs batted in.

SOPHIE WILLIAMS – 

Williams went a perfect 3-0 on USAO's opening weekend, including an 8.0 inning victory against #10 Midland University. The 2023 SAC Pitcher of the Year only allowed one earned run and four hits, while striking out 26 batters in 15.1 innings of work. Williams held opponents to a .100 batting average and a 0.65 WHIP. Her earned run average is currently a stellar 0.46.

-DOMINANT PITCHING-

The trio of Abi Gregory, Jayden Anderson, and Sophie Williams were nearly perfect as they led USAO to a 4-0 record. As a pitching staff, the Drovers only surrendered 10 hits in 28.0 innings pitched, and they produced a 0.75 earned run average with 50 strikeouts. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will be back in action on Saturday February 15 as they play a double-header at No. 7 ranked Our Lady of the Lake University. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 PM CT at OLLU Softball Field.

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