#2 USAO Extends Win-Streak to Nine with Double-Header Sweep Against Peru State

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Wednesday evening, the No. 2 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (13-2, 4-0 SAC) extended their win-streak to nine with a double-header sweep against Peru State College (2-10, 0-0 HAAC). The Drovers collected a 6-0 victory in the first game, followed by a 9-1 triumph in the finale. 

During USAO's current nine-game win-streak, they have outscored opponents 75-10.

The double-header was also a reunion of sorts, as former Drover Jaclyn Gray is now the assistant coach for the Bobcats. In 2023, Gray delivered an epic senior season at USAO, earning the SAC Player of the Year award, a first team NAIA All-American selection, and a first-team All-SAC selection. In 2023, Gray produced an incredible .413 batting average, along with 76 hits, 21 doubles, four triples, 11 homeruns, 47 runs scored, and 79 runs batted in. Furthermore, the catcher owned a phenomenal .750 slugging percentage and a .440 on base percentage. Her 79 RBIs set a new single season program record. Gray led the Sooner Athletic Conference in hits, homeruns, runs batted in, and slugging percentage, while ranking second in doubles and batting average. 

In her historic career at USAO, Gray appeared in 107 games, recording 128 hits, 38 doubles, four triples, 16 homers, 77 runs scored, and 118 RBIs. She led the Drovers to a SAC Championship as well as a pair of appearances in the NAIA Softball World Series. 

-GAME 1-

The Drovers used a historic performance from Sophie Williams to earn a 6-0 victory in the opener. Williams dealt her third career no-hitter, to go along with a trio of perfect games. 

After neither team was able to push across a run in the first, the Drovers captured the first lead of the game as Jordan Ramsay drove in a run with a single in the bottom of the second inning. USAO extended the lead to 2-0 on Jadyn Goucher's RBI-triple to left field in the bottom of the third. Shaylann Grace launched her first homerun of the season to give the Drovers a 3-0 in the fourth. USAO's final three runs came in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by Jadyn Goucher's third homerun of the season. 

Sophie Williams got the start in the circle for USAO and was nearly perfect, delivering 7.0 no-hit innings. Williams struck out the first 14 batters she faced and concluded with a career high of 18 strikeouts, which ranks as the second most in a game in program history. This season, the junior owns a 9-1 record with a 0.67 earned run average and 82 strikeouts in 52.0 innings. 

NO-HITTERS: Mar. 9, 2022 vs SCU | Mar. 29, 2022 vs OPSU | Mar. 6, 2024 vs PSC

PERFECT GAMES: Mar. 7, 2023 vs SCU | Mar. 24, 2023 vs SAGU | Feb. 24, 2024 vs WBU

As a team, USAO reached the bases on two Peru State fielding errors, four walks, and 11 base hits. The Bobcats had only one baserunner that reached via a walk. USAO left nine players stranded on the bases, while Peru State left one runner on.

Four different Drovers recorded a pair of hits in the win, led by Shaylann Grace's 2-2 performance that included a walk, a double, a homerun, three runs scored, and two runs batted in. Jadyn Goucher concluded 2-3 with a walk, a triple, a homer, one run scored, and two RBIs. Macenzie Ruth finished 2-4, while Taygan Graham went 2-3 with a run batted in. 

Leighanne Eaton went 1-4 with a double and a run scored. Malea McMurtrey closed 1-3, while Jordan Ramsay went 1-3 with a stolen base and a run batted in.

-GAME 2-

After falling behind early, the Drovers scored nine unanswered runs to earn the "mercy rule" victory. 

Following a no-hitter in the first game, the Bobcats wasted no time to getting their bats going in game two, using a pair of hits to bring in one run in the top of the first inning.

Peru State held the Drovers hitless until the bottom of the fourth inning, when USAO would wake up the bats and bring across five runs. The Drovers scored four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, to close the game early due to the "mercy rule".

As a team, USAO reached the bases on two Peru State fielding errors, three walks, and six hits. The Bobcats reached base via five hits, and they drew a pair of walks. Both teams left three baserunners stranded.

Macenzie Ruth and Melea McMurtrey led the Drovers to victory with a pair of two-hit performances. Ruth concluded 2-4 with three stolen bases and two runs scored, while McMurtrey went 2-4 with two stolen bases and two runs batted in. 

Jordan Ramsay finished 1-3 with an inside the park homerun and two runs batted in. Addison Willis closed 1-3 with a run scored and a run batted in. 

Taygan Graham did not record a hit, but she did drive in three runs, and scored once. 

Jayden Anderson got the start in the circle for USAO and improved her record to 3-1 after delivering 6.0 solid innings of work. Anderson struck out seven batters, while allowing one earned run on five hits. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will now head to Waxahachie, Texas for a four-game series at SAGU on March 8-9. Friday's double-header is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM CT, followed by a noon start time for Saturday's twin-bill. 

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