#6 USAO Falls Twice at #7 OLLU

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Saturday afternoon, the No. 6 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (4-2, 0-0 SAC) suffered a pair of losses in a double-header at No. 7 ranked Our Lady of the Lake University (10-1, 0-0 RRAC). The Saints outlasted the Drovers for a 2-1 win in the opener, and the Drovers suffered a 7-2 defeat in the finale. 

-GAME 1-

The Drovers managed to take an early lead with one run in the top of the second inning as Sophie Williams scored on a fielding error by the OLLU shortstop. However, the lead was short-lived as OLLU scored an unearned run on a USAO fielding error in the bottom half of the second.

The Saints captured a 2-1 lead with a solo-homerun in the bottom of the third, and that would end up being the final run of the game for either team, as both pitchers were stellar the rest of the game. 

As a team, USAO produced six hits and committed one fielding error, while OLLU tallied five hits and recorded a fielding error. 

Sophie Williams got the start in the circle for USAO and delivered 6.0 strong innings of work. Williams' record fell to 3-1 as she surrendered one earned run on five hits, and she struck out three batters.

Macenzie Ruth, Malea McMurtrey, Leighanne Eaton, Sophie Williams, Sierra Selfridge, and Jordan Ramsay each singled in the loss. 

-GAME 2-

The Saints took early control of game two and never looked back. OLLU opened the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, followed by one run in the second, and one more in the fourth. 

USAO scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-2, highlighted by Jadyn Goucher's homerun. However, OLLU bounced right back with a pair of runs of their own to increase their lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth. The Saints added one final insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

At the conclusion of the contest, OLLU produced 11 hits and committed a pair of fielding errors, compared to USAO's four hits and zero errors.

Jayden Anderson got the start for USAO in the circle and went 4.2 innings, surrendering six runs on eight hits, and she struck out four batters. Abi Gregory relieved Anderson for the final 1.1 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits.

Jadyn Goucher led the Drover offense with a 1-3 performance that included her first homer of the season. Malea McMurtrey, Leighanne Eaton, and Sierra Selfridge each recorded singles. Addison Willis drove in one run. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will be back in action on February 23-24 as they open conference play with a four-game series against Wayland Baptist University. Friday's double-header is scheduled to start at 4:00 PM, followed by a noon start time for Saturday's twin-bill.

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