Softball Starts Red Dirt Classic with Pair of Wins
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Our Lady of the Lake | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 15 | 5 |
|
Texas Wesleyan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Oklahoma City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
Our Lady of the Lake | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 4 | 5 | 0 |
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 1, 2024) – The No. 7-ranked Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball team won both games on the first day of the Red Dirt Classic hosted by Langston University. The Saints defeated Texas Wesleyan University (TWU) 11-2 in five innings in the first game. They beat No. 9-ranked Oklahoma City University (OCU) 4-1 in the second game.
vs. Texas Wesleyan University
Head Coach Bruce Lenington commented, "We got a great start to the weekend in the circle by Ava Hernandez's one hitter. The defense struggled a little bit but we did a great job of standing some runners."
OLLU opened the Red Dirt Classic with an 11-2 victory over TWU. The Saints took an early lead in the first inning with two runs. Grace Ross hit a ground out RBI to score Cassandra Valdez and Madison Garza tripled to score Natalie Rodriguez. The offense continued to shine in the second inning. Kristee Salas, Rodriguez, Garza and Ava Hernandez all drove in RBIs during the six-run frame. OLLU added three more runs in the five-inning run-rule game and totaled 15 hits. Ava Hernandez earned the win after pitching a complete game. She totaled four strikeouts and allowed only one hit.
vs. Oklahoma City University
Head Coach Bruce Lenington said, "This was one of our best efforts so far this season. The intensity and atmosphere was definitely World Series worthy. Cassandra Valdez threw an absolute gem tonight."
The Saints beat the Stars 4-1 backed by an impressive pitching performance by Valdez. She pitched a complete game with 12 strikeouts while allowing only two hits to earn the win. The Stars opened the scoring in the first inning on a single that brought home one run. Natalie Rodriguez responded in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run to tie the game. The game remained knotted at one until the fifth inning. Kayla Dreese hit a single and two runs scored on a throwing error by the left fielder. Dreese later stole home in the inning to grow the advantage to 4-1. The Saints held on to win and are now 14-1 on the season.
Up next
The Saints close the Red Dirt Classic tomorrow with three games. They play Southwestern Assemblies of God University at 10 a.m., Mid-America Christian University at 12:30 p.m. and Oklahoma Panhandle State University at 3 p.m.