USAO Defends Home Turf and Advances to Third NAIA Softball World Series in a Row

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Thursday afternoon, the No. 1 seed University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (47-7, 31-5 SAC) advanced to their third consecutive NAIA Softball World Series with a dominant 8-0 run-rule victory against No. 2 Midland University (44-12, 18-4 GPAC). The thrilling performance extended USAO's win streak to 28 and it is the eighth World Series appearance in program history. Additionally, the run-rule victory marks the 25^th time this season that the Drovers have defeated an opponent by eight runs or more. 

2024 marks the fourth consecutive year that USAO has been an Opening Round host, and over the last three seasons, the Drovers have a perfect 9-0 record against some of the toughest competition in the country.

The Drovers and Warrior have some recent history, having faced each other at the 2023 NAIA World Series, as well as three times this season. At last year's World Series, Midland came away with a 3-2 win and ended USAO's season. This season, Drovers have defeated the Warriors thrice, including a 2-1 extra-inning victory against Midland on February 9, prior to defeating the Warriors twice in the 2024 NAIA Softball Opening Round: presented by Roaster's Market.

On Thursday, the Drovers led from start to finish as they defended their home turf. After a scoreless first inning, Kinzie Williams drove in a pair of runs to give USAO the first lead of the game. The Drover offense stayed hot with a 5-run rally in the third inning, highlighted by RBI-doubles from Leighanne Eaton and Sophie Williams. 

Sophie Williams drove in USAO's final run with a sacrifice-fly in the bottom of the fourth, prior to sitting down the Warriors in order in the top of the fifth, ending the game early due to the "mercy rule".

As a team, USAO reached the bases on nine hits and two walks. Meanwhile the Warriors tallied only two hits and drew two walks. USAO was perfect on defense, while Midland committed three fielding errors. 

The Drover offense was led by a trio of two-hit performances from Malea McMurtrey, Sierra Selfridge, and Jadyn Goucher. McMurtrey concluded the game 2-3 with a pair of runs batted in. In the tournament, McMurtrey went 6-9 at the plate with a double and three RBIs. 

Selfridge concluded the win 2-3 with a double, and finished the opening round 6-9 with a double, a homer, and six runs batted in. On Thursday, Goucher finished 2-3 with a run scored. 

Sophie Williams helped her own cause by going 1-1 at the plate, with a double, a run scored, and two runs batted in. Leighanne Eaton also doubled as she finished 1-2 with a walk, two runs scored, and a run batted in. Macenzie Ruth went 1-3 with a single.

Kinzie Williams did not record a hit, but she did drive in three runs.

Sophie Williams improved her record to 27-4 as she delivered 5.0 spectacular innings of work. She surrendered only two hits, and she struck out five batters. 

This season, Williams owns a 0.83 earned run average and she has struck out 266 batters in 177.2 innings pitched. She currently ranks second in the NAIA in WHIP (.62), tied for third in the NAIA in wins (27), fourth in strikeouts (266), fourth in strikeouts per seven innings (10.48), and fourth in ERA (0.83).

Since coming to USAO as a freshman in 2022, Williams has produced a 69-17 win-loss record, along with a 1.23 ERA and 704 strikeouts in 542.1 innings of work. She has accumulated two NAIA All-American selections, three All-SAC selections, two SAC Pitcher of the Year awards, 11 SAC Pitcher of the Week awards, and three NAIA Pitcher of the Week awards. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will now travel to Columbus, Ga. for the 2024 NAIA Softball World Series beginning May 23.

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