Saints Complete Oklahoma Trip With Sweep Over USAO

CHICKASHA, OKLA. (Feb. 28, 2023) – The No. 15-ranked Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball team took both games against No. 3-ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) on Tuesday. The Saints improve to 14-4 overall. The Drovers fall to 5-5. The Saints rank first in the NAIA with 34 home runs and leave Oklahoma with sweeps against No. 1-ranked Oklahoma City University (OCU) and USAO.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington commented, "The competition level today demanded our very best to compete. USAO was certainly ready for us, but we were able to stay focused and execute. Our goal has to be to learn from this road trip and continue to get better."

History

The Saints were 0-2 against the Drovers prior to the game.

Game one

The Saints scored five unanswered runs to take game one.  The Drovers led 2-0 after the first inning on a two-run home run off Saints starting pitcher Cassandra Valdez. Madison Nunn cut the deficit to one run on a solo home run in the second inning. Valdez later hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to give the Saints the permanent lead. OLLU added three more runs and won 6-2. Valdez didn't allow another run after the first frame and pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts. She earned her seventh win on the season. Nunn finished with two home runs and the Saints totaled eight hits.

Game two

OLLU completed the sweep with a 12-6 victory in game two. The Saints totaled 13 hits and scored in every inning besides the fourth. The Saints never trailed and pulled away in the sixth inning when they plated five runs. Rebecca Duran batted 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a home run. Madison Garza also went 3-for-5 and had three RBIs. Angela Ramirez earned the win in the circle after going 5.2 innings with two strikeouts and four earned runs. The Saints outscored OCU and USAO 41-12 over four games.

Up next

The Saints return home to face NCAA D3 Schreiner University for a doubleheader on March 4.