#6 USAO Extends Win Streak to 19 as Williams Sets New NAIA Record

GOODWELL, Okla. – Sunday afternoon, the No. 6 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (38-7, 29-5 SAC) extended their win streak to 19 with double-header sweep against Oklahoma Panhandle State University (15-31, 12-22 SAC). The Drovers opened the series with a historic 8-0 victory, followed by a dominant 11-0 triumph in game two.

USAO has dominated the all-time series against OPSU, going 27-2 against the Aggies since the series began on March 1, 2017. 

-GAME 1-

The Drovers began the series with a historic performance from Sophie Williams, as USAO cruised to an 8-0 win in the opener. Williams delivered her fourth perfect game of the season, which is a new NAIA record for most perfect games in a single season. 

 After the game began with two scoreless innings, the Drovers claimed the first lead with one run in the top of the third inning, followed by a trio of runs in the fourth. USAO doubled their lead and forced the game to end early due to the "mercy rule" with four runs in the top of the fifth.

As a team, USAO reached the bases on 10 hits and three walks, while OPSU failed to reach the bases. The Aggies committed five errors on defense, while the Drovers had none. 

The Drover offense was led by four multi-hit performances from Kinzie Williams, Jadyn Goucher, Leighanne Eaton, and Taygan Graham. Williams scored once and Graham drove in one run. Eaton scored once and drove in three runs, while Goucher scored twice and drove in one run.

Sophie Williams and Kamryn James each singled at the plate as well.  

For the third weekend in a row, Sophie Williams delivered a perfect game in the circle for USAO, which is her fourth of the season and sixth of her marvelous career. Furthermore, her most recent perfect game broke the NAIA record for most perfect games in a season. She has also recorded three no-hitters in her career, one of which came earlier this season. Additionally, Williams has not surrendered a run in her last 31.0 innings pitched. During the scoreless streak, she has struck out 62 batters. 

On Sunday, she improved her record to 21-4 as she struck out 11 batters while allowing zero baserunners in 5.0 innings of work. This season, Williams owns a 0.88 earned run average and she has struck out 214 batters in 143.2 innings pitched. 

Williams had Shaquille O'Neal sized shoes to fill when she became the Drovers ace, following the greatest pitcher in NAIA history, Emily Cerny. Despite having such a major role to fill, Williams has done far better than what anyone could have realistically expected. Since coming to USAO as a freshman in 2022, Williams has produced a 63-17 win-loss record, along with a 1.28 ERA and 652 strikeouts in 508.1 innings of work. She has accumulated two NAIA All-American selections, two All-SAC selections, the 2023 SAC Pitcher of the Year award, 10 SAC Pitcher of the Week awards, and three NAIA Pitcher of the Week awards. Should Williams be fortunate enough to claim the SAC Pitcher of the Year award next month, it would be the seventh year in a row that a Drover has claimed the recognition.

-GAME 2-

Much like the first game, the Drovers were sensational in the circle and on defense, cruising to an 11-0 mercy-rule victory. 

 The game began with a scoreless first inning, but USAO claimed an early lead with one run in the top of the second. The Drovers extended the lead to 8-0 with a seven-run rally in the top of the third. USAO scored once in the fourth, followed by their final two runs in the fifth.

As a team, USAO reached the bases on nine hits and five walks, while OPSU tallied only two hits and did not draw a walk. The Aggies committed three errors on defense, while the Drovers were perfect in the field. 

The USAO offense was led by a trio of multi-hit performances. Addison Willis led the way, going 3-3 with a triple, a run scored, and a run batted in. Malea McMurtrey concluded 2-3 with a run scored and two runs batted in, while Jaylee Willis went 2-3 with a run scored and a run batted in. 

Jadyn Goucher drove in three runs as she finished 1-3 with a double. Sierra Selfridge walked twice and drove in two runs. Kinzie Williams went 1-3 with a run scored. 

USAO was led by another stellar pitching performance, Jayden Anderson improved her record to 11-2 so far this season. Anderson delivered her fourth shutout of the season and allowed only two hits, while striking out five batters in 4.0 innings of work. This season, Anderson has produced a 1.78 earned run average and she has struck out 94 batters in 98.1 innings.

Gabby Toquothty pitched a perfect fifth inning and struck out one batter. Toquothty has not allowed any runs this season and has struck out 14 batters in 7.2 innings of work out of the bullpen. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers and Aggies will conclude the series, as well as the regular season, with a double-header on Monday, April 29. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM CT at Jim Quimby Field in Goodwell, Okla.

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