Goucher Blasts Three Homers as #3 USAO Extends Win Streak to Seven at OPSU

GOODWELL, Okla. – Monday afternoon, the No. 3 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (26-6, 16-2 SAC) extended its win streak to seven with a pair of lopsided victories on the road at Oklahoma Panhandle State University (17-15, 9-9 SAC). The Drovers opened the series with a dominant 13-3 win, followed by a 12-1 victory in game two. With the sweep, the Drovers improve to 32-2 against the Aggies all-time, dating to March 2017. 

During USAO's current win streak, they have outscored their opponents 68-18. Through 32 games this season, USAO has tallied 10 or more hits on 14 different occasions, and during the current seven-game win streak, they have tallied at least 11 hits six times. 

GAME 1

The Drovers scored early and often as they cruised to their sixth win in a row, with a 13-3 triumph in the series opener.

The Drovers immediately claimed the lead in the series opener, pushing across a pair of runs in the top of the first inning on a two-RBI single from Shaylann Grace. USAO extended the lead to 5-0 with three more runs in the top of the third inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Sierra Selfridge. 

In the top of the fourth, Jadyn Goucher led off the inning with her third home run of the year, catapulting the Drovers to a two-run rally, extending the lead to 7-0. The Drovers made a pitching change going into the bottom of the fourth, and the Aggies responded with a pair of runs of their own.

USAO stretched the lead to 13-2 with a six-run rally in the top of the fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Jadyn Goucher. OPSU scored once in the bottom half of the fifth, but it was not enough to extend the game, ending the game early due to the "mercy rule".

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 14 hits and reached on three walks, while the Aggies tallied only six hits and walked three times. USAO was perfect on defense, while OPSU committed one fielding error.

Sophie Williams got the start in the circle for USAO and pitched the opening 3.0 innings, surrendering zero runs on one hit and she struck out five batters to improve her record to 13-3 this season. In her stellar career, Williams owns an 84-22 record, along with a 1.36 earned run average and 830 strikeouts in 676.2 innings of work.

Aubree Ferguson pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and she struck out two batters. 

USAO's offense was led by four multi-hit performances, including Goucher's two-homer display. Goucher concluded 2-3 with four runs batted in. Kinzie Williams went 4-4 with two doubles, a run scored, and three runs batted in. Shaylann Grace finished 2-3 with a run scored and three runs batted in, while Taygan Graham went 2-3 with a run scored. 

Sierra Selfridge went 1-4 with a double, a run scored, and three runs batted in. Malea McMurtrey closed 1-3 with a walk and three runs scored. Taylor Cronic went 1-2 with a walk and a run scored. Aubree Ferguson went 1-1 with a single and a run scored. 

GAME 2 

After falling behind in the first inning, the Drovers scored 12 unanswered runs over the final six innings to claim a 12-1 win in the second game of the day.

After holding USAO scoreless in their first plate appearance, OPSU captured an early lead with one run in the bottom half of the first inning. However, the lead was short-lived as Jadyn Goucher launched her third homer of the day to give the Drovers a 3-1 lead in the top of the second inning. USAO added more insurance with one run in the top of the sixth as Goucher drove in a run with a double to left field. The Drovers put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh, pushing across eight more runs to extend the lead to 12-1.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 11 hits and reached on two walks, while the Aggies tallied seven hits and walked four times. USAO's defense committed one fielding error, while OPSU fumbled the ball twice. 

USAO's offense was led by another powerful performance from Jadyn Goucher, increasing her home run total to five so far this season. Goucher concluded the game 2-4 with a double, a homer, and four runs batted in. Goucher's bat is scorching hot, having recorded a hit in seven consecutive games, and during that span she is 15-23 (.652) with five doubles, four home runs, 11 runs scored, and 13 runs batted in. 

Leighanne Eaton also tallied a pair of hits, going 2-3 with a pair of runs scored and a run batted in. Malea McMurtrey concluded 2-4 with a walk, a run scored, and a run batted in.

Shaylann Grace went 1-4 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of runs batted in. Triniti Cotanny singled and drove in two runs in her only at bat of the game. Kinzie Williams went 1-4 with a run scored and a run batted in. Addison Willis singled and drove in a run, while Jordan Ramsay singled and scored a run. 

Jayden Anderson got the start in the circle for USAO and went 7.0 innings, allowing only one earned run on seven hits, and she struck out one batter to improve her record to 7-2 this season. In her young career at USAO, the sophomore owns an impressive 22-4 record, along with a 1.72 earned run average and 151 strikeouts in 174.1 innings of work. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers are scheduled to return to action on April 4-5 as they host a four-game series against Southwestern Christian University at Bill Smith Ballpark in Chickasha, Okla. Friday's double header is scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM CT, followed by a 12:00 PM CT start time for Saturday's twin bill.

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