Williams Homers and Strikes Out 13 as #1 USAO Claims First Win of NAIA Opening Round

CHICKASHA, Okla. – On Monday, the No. 1 seed University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (48-7, 33-3 SAC) opened the 2025 NAIA Softball Opening Round with a 5-3 win against No. 4 Stillman College (33-12, 15-0 HBCUAC). 

2025 marks the fifth consecutive year that USAO has been an Opening Round host, and over the last four seasons, the Drovers have a perfect 10-0 record against some of the toughest competition in the country.

During USAO's current 17-game win streak, they have outscored opponents 124-26. Through 55 games this season, USAO has tallied 10 or more hits on 28 different occasions, and they have earned 19 wins via the run-rule. The pitching staff has also been terrific, producing a 1.89 earned run average with 303 strikeouts in 345.0 innings. Additionally, USAO has held opponents to a .210 batting average, while the Drovers offense owns a .359 average at the dish. 

On Monday, the Drovers wasted little time to claim the lead, scoring once in the bottom of the first as Leighanne Eaton drove in Kinzie Williams. USAO then scored its final four runs in the bottom of the second inning, highlighted by Sophie Williams' third home run of the season. Stillman scored all three of their runs in the top of the seventh inning, before S. Williams closed the door on the Tigers for good. 

In total, the Drovers offense produced 10 hits and drew zero walks, while the Tigers were held to eight hits, and one free pass. USAO was perfect on defense and Stillman committed three fielding errors. 

Sophie Williams got the start in the circle and improved her record to 26-4 this season, pitching all 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and she struck out 13 batters. 

In her stellar career, Williams owns a 97-23 record, along with a 1.33 earned run average and 930 strikeouts in 754.2 innings of work. She owns 40 shutouts, five no-hitters, and seven perfect games since the start of 2022.

Williams also paced the Drover offense, going 2-3 with a double and a solo-home run. Malea McMurtrey concluded 3-4, while Kinzie Williams went 2-4 with two stolen bases, two runs scored, and a run batted in. 

Sierra Selfridge finished 1-4 with a pair of runs batted in, and Leighanne Eaton went 1-3 with a run batted in. Shaylann Grace also singled in the win.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will face No. 2 seed Grand View in the winner's bracket game of the NAIA Opening Round on Tuesday, May 13. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM CT at Bill Smith Ballpark. 

In 2021, Grand View made the trip to Chickasha for the Opening Round and defeated the Drovers 3-2. In the only other two previous meetings between GVU and USAO, the Drovers came away with the win (2008 & 2012).

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