USAO Pushes Win Streak to 24 and Advances to Sixth Consecutive SAC Championship Game

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Saturday afternoon, the No. 2 seed University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (43-7, 31-5 SAC) advanced to their sixth consecutive SAC Tournament championship game with a dominant 8-0 victory against No. 3 Mid-America Christian University (36-15, 27-9 SAC). The triumph extends USAO's win streak to 24 and extends their shutout streak to 23 innings.

The Drovers have dominated the all-time series against the Evangels, going 52-15 against MACU since April 1, 2008. Additionally, USAO has won 29 of the last 35 against MACU since 2017.

The Drovers wasted no time to claim the lead on Saturday, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning, followed by two more in the second. The score remained 6-0 until USAO scored their final two runs in the sixth inning, to win in walk-off fashion as they forced the run-rule to come into effect. The Drovers have earned run-rule victories in six of their last seven games. 

As a team, USAO reached the bases on 13 hits and three walks, while MACU tallied only four hits and zero walks. Both teams committed one error on defense.   

The USAO offense was led by five multi-hit performances, including Malea McMurtrey's 3-4 performance, which included three runs scored. 

Sierra Selfridge went 2-3 with a double, a walk, a run scored, and four runs batted in. Kenzie Williams was perfect at the dish, going 2-2 with a double and two runs scored. Leighanne Eaton went 2-4 with a run scored and a run batted in, while Macenzie Ruth went 2-3 with a walk, a run scored, and a run batted in. 

Sophie Williams helped her own cause by going 1-2 with a pair of RBIs. Addison Willis delivered a single in her only at bat of the game.  

Sophie Williams improved her record to 25-4 as she pitched 3.0 scoreless innings. She surrendered only one hit, and she struck out two batters. Additionally, Williams has not surrendered a run in her last 49.0 innings pitched. During the scoreless streak, she has struck out 96 batters. 

This season, Williams owns a 0.78 earned run average and she has struck out 248 batters in 161.2 innings pitched. 

Since coming to USAO as a freshman in 2022, Williams has produced a 67-17 win-loss record, along with a 1.24 ERA and 686 strikeouts in 526.1 innings of work. She has accumulated two NAIA All-American selections, two All-SAC selections, the 2023 SAC Pitcher of the Year award, 11 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 week, it would be the seventh year in a row that a Drover has claimed the recognition. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers head to Oklahoma City for the SAC Tournament championship game on Sunday, May 5 against No. 1 seed Oklahoma City University. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM CT at Ann Lacy Stadium on the campus of OCU. 

Since 2018, the Drovers and Stars have met in every SAC championship game, with OCU winning three, and USAO winning two. 

For more information about the SAC Tournament, CLICK HERE!

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