Drovers Extend Win Streak to 25 and Claim Fourth SAC Tournament Championship

YUKON, Okla. – Sunday afternoon, the No. 2 seed University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (44-7, 31-5 SAC) earned their second consecutive and fourth total SAC Tournament championship with an incredible 3-1 victory against No. 1 Oklahoma City University (51-3, 35-1 SAC). Additionally, the triumph extends USAO's win streak to 25.

In four games during the SAC Tournament, the Drovers outscored their opponents 21-1.

The Drovers improve to 20-46 against the Stars since 2008. Since 2018, USAO has had much better luck against the Stars, having won 16 of the last 33 meetings. Furthermore, the Drovers and the Stars have met in each of the last six SAC Tournament championship games, with each team having claimed the crown three times in that span.

The Drovers were the away team on the scoreboard and led from start to finish in the championship game, scoring one run in the top of the first inning on Sierra Selfridge's RBI-double. USAO then extended the lead to 2-0 on Jadyn Goucher's RBI-single in the top of the third. The Drovers added one final insurance run in the top of the seventh, scoring on an OCU error.

The Stars scored their only run in the top of the seventh, but it was too little, too late for OCU.

As a team, USAO reached the bases on six hits and two walks, while OCU tallied only two hits and one walk. The Stars committed a pair of fielding errors, while the Drovers only fumbled the ball once.   

Malea McMurtrey led the Drover offense, going 2-4 with two runs scored. Sierra Selfridge finished 1-4 with a double and a run batted in, while Jadyn Goucher went 1-4 with a single and a run batted in. Taygan Graham and Kinzie Williams each singled in the win. 

Sophie Williams improved her record to 26-4 as she delivered 7.0 spectacular innings of work. She surrendered only two hits, and she struck out 11 batters. Additionally, Williams has not surrendered an earned run in her last 56.0 innings pitched. The shutout streak has lasted a full month, as the last time she surrendered an earned run was on April 5, 2024. During the streak, she has struck out 107 batters. 

This season, Williams owns a 0.75 earned run average and she has struck out 259 batters in 168.2 innings pitched. She currently ranks second in the NAIA in wins (26), second in WHIP (.58), third in strikeouts (259), fourth in strikeouts per seven innings (10.75), and fourth in ERA (0.75).

Since coming to USAO as a freshman in 2022, Williams has produced a 68-17 win-loss record, along with a 1.22 ERA and 697 strikeouts in 533.1 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 on Monday (May 6), it would be the seventh year in a row that a Drover has claimed the recognition. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers now await the NAIA Selection Show on Tuesday, May 7 to find out who their opponents will be in the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round: presented by Roaster's Market. The opening round will take place from May 13-16 at Bill Smith Ballpark for the fourth year in a row. 

For more information about the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round: presented by Roaster's Market, CLICK HERE!

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