Pitching and Defense Dominate as #2 USAO Sweeps Opening Day Double Header

MESQUITE, Texas – Friday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (2-0, 0-0 SAC) opened the 2025 season with a double-header sweep against the University of British Columbia and Bethany College (Kan.). USAO opened the day with a 6-1 victory against UBC, followed by a 3-0 shutout win in the second game against Bethany.

• GAME 1 vs UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (0-2, 0-0 CCC)

The Drovers led from start to finish in the season opener, starting with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, followed by one more in the second. USAO extended the lead to 6-0 with one run in the bottom of the fourth, followed by their final two runs in the fifth. UBC scored their only run in the top of the sixth inning.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 14 hits and reached on four walks, while the Thunderbirds tallied only four hits and drew one walk. UBC did not commit a fielding error, in comparison to USAO's three fumbles on defense. 

Sophie Williams began her back-to-back SAC Pitcher of the Year defence with a solid start to earn her first win of 2025. Williams went all 7.0 innings, surrendering only one run on four hits, while striking out four batters. 

Three different Drovers contributed multi-hit performances in the season opener, led by Malea McMurtrey's perfect 4-4 showing at the plate. The All-American also used her speed to score four runs.

Leighanne Eaton was also perfect at the plate, going 3-3 with a walk and four runs batted in. Kinzie Williams concluded 2-4 with a run scored and a pair of runs batted in.

Shaylann Grace, Sophie Williams, Sierra Selfridge, Jadyn Goucher, and Jordan Ramsay each singled.

• GAME 2 vs BETHANY COLLEGE (1-3, 0-0 KCAC)

 The Drovers immediately captured in the lead in game two, striking for one run in the top of the first inning. USAO extended the lead to 2-0 courtesy of Jadyn Goucher's solo-home run in the top of the fourth inning. The Drovers added their final insurance run in the top of the seventh, prior to shutting the door on the Swedes in the bottom half of the seventh. 

As a team, the Drovers offense produced six hits and reached on one walks, while the Swedes tallied only one hit and drew four walks. Both teams were perfect on defense and did not commit any fielding errors. 

Jayden Anderson was nearly unhittable in her first start of the season. Anderson secured the shutout, allowing only one hit, while striking out nine batters. 

The Drover offense was led by a two-hit performance from Kinzie Williams. Williams concluded 2-3 with a walk and a run scored. Goucher finished 1-3 with her first homer of the season. Leighanne Eaton drove in a pair of runs as she went 1-4 at the plate. Malea McMurtrey went 1-3 with a run scored, and Ashlyn Turner closed 1-3 in her first game as a Drover.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers return to the field tomorrow (Feb. 8) for a double-header against Cottey College and Missouri Baptist University at day two of the Southern Collegiate Sports NAIA Invitational in Mesquite, Texas. First pitch against Cottey College is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT, followed by a 1:30 PM CT start time against MBU.

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