Drovers Score Five Unanswered Runs to Advance at the World Series and Extend Win Streak to 30

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Saturday night, the No. 6 seed University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (49-7, 31-5 SAC) continued to thrive at the 2024 NAIA Softball World with an incredible 5-4 comeback victory against No. 7 Jessup University (41-11, 15-5 GSAC).

The dominant performance extended USAO's win streak to 30 games, which is the longest such streak in the NAIA currently. During the win-streak, USAO is 9-0 against teams that are ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

Saturday's game got off to a rough start for the Drovers and trailed 4-0 after three innings, however the Drovers responded with five unanswered runs to advance in the winner's bracket. 

Jessup scored on a solo-home run in the top of the first inning, followed by a trio of runs in the third. 

USAO began to chip away the deficit with one run in the bottom of the fourth inning as Kamryn James drove in Leighanne Eaton. The Drovers claimed the lead with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fifth inning. USAO used five consecutive hits to bring in the runs, highlighted by RBIs from Sierra Selfridge, Leighanne Eaton, and Sophie Williams. 

USAO locked down on defense in the final two innings to capture the exhilarating triumph. 

As a team, USAO reached the bases on 14 hits, as well as two Jessup fielding errors. Meanwhile the Warriors tallied only seven hits and drew five walks. USAO committed one error on defense.  The Drover offense has been very impressive in the postseason and has produced 13 runs on 26 hits in two games at the World Series so far. 

Sophie Williams delivered a gutsy performance in the circle as she improved her record to 29-4 with 7.0 innings of work. She surrendered seven hits and four runs, while striking out seven batters. The back-to-back SAC Pitcher of the Year owns a 1.02 earned run average and she has struck out 276 batters in 191.2 innings pitched. 

Five different Drovers recorded multiple hits in the win. On top of her sensational performance in the circle, Sophie Williams helped her own cause by going 3-3 at the plate. Additionally, Williams drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. 

Macenzie Ruth concluded 3-3 with a run scored, while Malea McMurtrey went 3-4 with a run scored. Leighanne Eaton finished 2-3 with two runs scored and a run batted in. 

Kenzie Williams continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-3. Williams in 4-7 (.571) at the plate in the World Series, as well as 16-27 (.593) over the last 11 games. The freshman has scored 11 runs in the last 11 games. 

Sierra Selfridge drove in one run and went 1-4 at the dish.  

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WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will be back in action in Columbus, Ga. for the winner's bracket game on Monday, May 27 at 6:00 PM CT against No. 1 Our Lady of the Lake University.

USAO and OLLU met earlier this season for a double-header in San Antonio in mid-February. The Saints won the first game 2-1 and 7-2 in the finale.  

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