#3 USAO Extends Win Streak to 11 with a Pair of Run-Rule Victories

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Monday evening, the No. 3 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (30-6, 20-2 SAC) extended its win streak to 11 with a double-header sweep against Southwestern Christian University (21-15, 12-12 SAC). The Drovers claimed run-rule shortened 8-0 victories (5 inn.) in both games. On Thursday, the Drovers opened the four-game series with a 7-1 win, followed by a 6-1 victory in game two. With the sweep, the Drovers improve to 51-1 against the Eagles all-time, including 36 consecutive wins against SCU since 2016.

During USAO's current 11-game win streak, they have outscored their opponents 97-20. Through 36 games this season, USAO has tallied 10 or more hits on 16 different occasions, and during the current win streak, they have tallied at least 10 hits eight times. 

GAME 1

The Drovers kept a recent trend going, putting up a big number late in the contest to claim an 8-0 victory. After the game began with two scoreless innings, the Drovers claimed an early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning, highlighted by a RBI-double from Leighanne Eaton, driving in Kinzie Williams. USAO maintained a slim two-run advantage going into the fifth inning, when the offense would rally for six runs, ending the game early due to the run-rule. Jadyn Goucher emphatically brought the game to an abrupt end with a three-run, walk-off home run to center field. 

As a team, the Drovers offense produced seven hits and drew two walks, while the Eagles tallied only three hits and did not earn a free pass. USAO was perfect on defense, while SCU committed two fielding errors.

Sophie Williams got the start in the circle for USAO and earned her 34^th career shutout, surrendering zero runs on three hits and she struck out eight batters to improve her record to 15-3 this season. In her stellar career, Williams owns an 86-22 record, along with a 1.35 earned run average and 844 strikeouts in 688.2 innings of work.

USAO's offense was led by a two-hit performance from Leighanne Eaton, concluding 2-3 with two doubles and two runs batted in. 

Jadyn Goucher finished 1-3 with her sixth homer of the season, along with three runs batted in. Sierra Selfridge drove in a pair of runs as she went 1-3. 

Kinzie Williams went 1-3 with a pair of runs scored, while Sophie Williams helped her own cause in the circle by going 1-3 with a run scored and a run batted in. Taylor Cronic closed the game 1-2 with a run scored. 

GAME 2 

The Drovers scored early and often in the second 8-0 triumph of the day, this time less dramatically.

USAO brought across a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, prior to one more in the second. The Drovers scored their final five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Leighanne Eaton. Aubree Ferguson held the Eagles scoreless in the top of the fifth inning, earning her first collegiate shutout. 

Ferguson got the start in the circle for USAO and went 5.0 innings to improve her record to 4-0 this season. Anderson just two hits while striking out seven batters. 

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 12 hits and reached on two walks, while the Eagles tallied two hits and zero walks. SCU's defense committed one fielding error, while USAO defense was unblemished. The Drovers blazed the base paths for nine stolen bases (Taylor Cronic x3, Malea McMurtrey x2, Kinzie Williams, Sierra Selfridge, Jaylee Willis, Jordan Ramsay).

USAO's offense was led by a trio of multi-hit performances at the top of the batting order. Kenzie Williams was USAO's leadoff in the finale and finished 3-3 with a triple, two runs scored, and a run batted in. Malea McMurtrey batted second and concluded 2-3 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of runs batted in, while Sierra Selfridge went 2-3 with a double and a run batted in.

Leighanne Eaton went 1-3 with her fourth homer of the season, along with two runs batted in. Taylor Cronic, Shaylann Grace, Jadyn Goucher, and Taygan Graham each singled. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will now head to Fort Worth, Texas for a four-game series at Texas Wesleyan University on April 11-12. Friday's double header is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM CT, followed by a noon start time on Saturday.  

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