#2 USAO Dominates SAGU to Extend Win-Streak to 13

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Monday afternoon, the No. 2 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (17-2, 8-0 SAC) extended their win-streak to 13 with a 4-game sweep Southwestern Assemblies of God University (7-15, 1-7 SAC). 

In the series, USAO compiled 58 hits, 23 extra-base hits, nine home runs, and outscored the Lions 40-5. The Drover pitching staff was equally dominant, allowing only four earned runs on 12 hits and they struck out 39 batters. 

During USAO's current 13-game win-streak, they have outscored opponents 115-15.

USAO has dominated the all-time series against SAGU, and the Drovers are now 44-0 against the Lions since the start of the 2014 season. 

The conference foes were scheduled to play a four-game series at SAGU, but rain and lightning postponed game two of the series in the bottom of the third inning. The remainder of the series was moved to Chickasha on Monday and the Drovers finished up a 12-3 victory in game two of the series, followed by a 9-0 triumph in game three and a 9-0 win in the series finale. USAO opened the series with a 10-2 victory in the series open last Friday.

-GAME 2-

After the game opened with a scoreless first inning, USAO brought in four runs in the top of the second inning, highlighted by Jadyn Goucher's fourth homerun of the season. SAGU managed to cut their deficit in half with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. 

After two and a half innings, the game was postponed due to the weather, and was resumed on Monday in the bottom of the third inning with USAO holding a 4-2 lead.

When play resumed in Chickasha, the Drovers were in full control and outscored the Lions 9-1 for the remainder of the contest, scoring once in the top of the fourth, followed by five in the sixth, and two more in the seventh. SAGU scored once in the bottom of the sixth.

Jayden Anderson got the start in the circle for USAO and improved her record to 4-1 after delivering 7.0 solid innings of work. Anderson struck out seven batters, while allowing two earned runs on nine hits. 

As a team, USAO reached the bases on 16 hits, two SAGU fielding errors, and they drew one walk. The Lions had nine hits, reached on one USAO error, and they drew four walks.

Six different Drovers compiled multiple hits in the win, led by Kamryn James' two-homer performance. James concluded 2-2 with her first two home runs of the season. 

Jadyn Goucher concluded 2-4 with a home run, a double, a run scored, and three runs batted in. Taygan Graham went 2-2 with a double and two runs scored, while Macenzie Ruth went 2-4 with a double, a run scored, and a run batted in.

Sophie Williams concluded 2-4 with a pair of RBIs, and Leighanne Eaton finished 2-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored. 

Terra Funk went 1-1 with a solo-homer, while Shaylann Grace and Jordan Ramsay each singled. Grace scored once, while Ramsay scored twice. 

-GAME 3-

The Drovers scored early and often as they cruised to a 9-0 win in the third game of the series. 

After a scoreless first inning, USAO captured a 1-0 lead on Jadyn Goucher's solo-homer in the top of the second inning. The Drovers added two more runs in the third, followed by one run in the fourth. Shaylann Grace launched her second homer of the year to give USAO a 5-0 lead in the top of the sixth. The Drovers put the game away for good as they produced four insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Sophie Williams got the start in the circle for USAO and improved her record to 11-1. Williams delivered 6.0 scoreless innings and struck out 14 batters, while only allowing two hits. Gabby Toquothty relieved Williams in the seventh and struck out all three batters that she faced. 
So far this season, Williams has been selected as the Sooner Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week four times, and she owns a 0.58 earned run average, along with 101 strikeouts in 60.0 innings pitched. 

As a team, USAO reached the bases on 15 hits, and they drew one walk. The Lions had only two hits, along with one walk. Both teams reached base on one fielding error.

The Drovers were led by a pair of three-hit performances from Macenzie Ruth and Jadyn Goucher. Ruth finished 3-4 with a triple, two runs scored, and two stolen bases, while Goucher went 3-4 with a homerun, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. 

Malea McMurtrey concluded 2-4 with a run scored and two runs batted in. Sophie Williams helped her own cause by going 2-4 with a run scored and a run batted in. 

Shaylann Grace closed the game 1-3 with a solo homer. Addison Willis, Sierra Selfridge, Taygan Graham, and Kinzie Williams each recorded singles in the victory.

-GAME 4-

The Drovers were in complete control of the series finale, outscoring the Lions 9-0, and out-hitting SAGU 13-0. Abi Gregory delivered a perfect game in the circle, which is the second such performance for USAO this season. Since the start of 2018, the Drovers have held an opponent hitless on 27 different occasions, and they have produced 118 shutouts in that span.  

The Drovers wasted no time taking the lead in the series finale, bringing in a trio of runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by Jadyn Goucher's two-run homer. USAO extended the lead to 4-0 on Malea McMurtrey's RBI-single in the second inning. The Drovers scored their final five runs in the fourth inning, punctuated by Macenzie Ruth's second home run of the series. 

Abi Gregory was perfect in the circle for USAO, delivering her second career perfect game, in addition to a pair of no-hitters. Gregory went all 5.0 innings and struck out four batters to improve her record to 2-0 this season.

PERFECT GAMES: March 7, 2023 vs SCU | March 11, 2024 vs SAGU

NO-HITTERS: March 4, 2023 vs Hastings | March 6, 2023 vs Benedictine   

The Drover offense reached the bases on 13 hits, and they drew one walk, meanwhile the Lions did not have a single baserunner.

Macenzie Ruth led the USAO offense with a perfect 4-4 performance, tallying two triples, a home run, three runs scored, and two runs batted in. 

Sierra Selfridge belted a pair of doubles as she finished 2-3 with a run scored and a run batted in, while Malea McMurtrey went 2-3 with a run scored and two runs batted in.

Jadyn Goucher launched her sixth homer of the season and finished 1-3 with a pair of RBIs.

Kamryn James and Jordan Ramsay each finished 1-2 with a double. Addison Willis drove in a pair of runs and went 1-3 at the dish. Leighanne Eaton concluded 1-4 with a double and a pair of runs. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

On Friday, March 15, the No. 2 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma softball team will be back in action at home as they host Women's History Appreciation Night as they face No. 5 ranked Oklahoma City University. First pitch of the first game of the double-header is scheduled for 5:00 PM, followed by game two at 7:00 PM at Bill Smith Ballpark.

The four-game series will conclude with another double-header on Saturday, March 16, beginning at 2:00 PM CT at Bill Smith Ballpark.

Stay up to date on all Drover Athletics news by following us on our media platforms!

Athletics Website: www.usaoathletics.com

Live-stream: www.sacsportsnetwork.com/usao

YouTube: Drover Athletics

Twitter/X: @DroverAthletics

Facebook: @DroverAthletics

Instagram: @drover_athletics

GIPHY: www.giphy.com/USAODrovers