Drovers Split Season Series Against MACU
CHICKASHA, Okla. – Tuesday night, the No. 9 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (28-12, 18-6 SAC) split a double-header against Mid-America Christian University (28-12, 13-9 SAC). The Drovers claimed a thrilling 4-3 victory in the nine-inning first game, followed by a disappointing 10-5 loss in the series finale.
The Drovers and Evangels also split their first double-header of the season, back on April 8 in Oklahoma City. The first game went nine innings and MACU used a walk-off squeeze play to steal the 1-0 victory, but the Drovers responded with a 6-5 comeback victory in the second game.
The Drovers are now 47-13 against the Evangels all-time, dating back to April 1, 2008. Since 2017, Science & Arts owns a 24-4 record against MACU.
The Drovers remain in second place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, four games back of OCU, with eight games remaining in the regular season.
-GAME 1-
After neither team was able to score in the opening two innings, the Drovers captured the first lead with one run in the third inning, followed by another in the fourth.
MACU tied the score at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning, and the score remained knotted until the ninth inning.
The Evangels took a 3-2 with a run in the top of the ninth, but the Drovers retaliated with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth to secure the walk-off win. Sierra Selfridge played the role of the hero as she drove in a pair with the game-winning double.
Sophie Williams was once again spectacular as she improved her record to 12-6 this season. Williams surrendered only two earned runs on five hits, and she struck out a whopping 13 batters.
As a team, Science & Arts strung together eight hits to score their four runs. Selfridge led the way, going 2-2 with a double, a walk, and three runs batted in.
Sophie Williams helped her own cause in the circle, by going 1-3 with a solo-homerun at the plate. Malea McMurtrey concluded 2-4 with a pair of singles, while Jadyn Goucher went 1-1 with a run scored. Slater Eck and Tyler Trott each finished 1-4 with singles.
-GAME 2-
The Evangels took an early lead with two runs in the top of the first inning and the score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the third.
The Drovers pushed across a trio of runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead, however MACU immediately tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth.
The Evangels went on to score four runs in the fifth, followed by three more in the sixth, prior to USAO scoring its final two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Lauryn Cottrell got the start in the circle and surrendered three earned runs in 4.2 innings of work. Cottrell struck out four batters.
Abi Gregory struck out three batters in 1.0 inning, followed by Katelyn Trumbley delivering a scoreless 1.1 innings.
In the loss, USAO produced six hits as a team and half of those hits came off the bat of Jaclyn Gray. Gray concluded 3-4 with a homer, and two runs batted in.
Tyler Trott concluded 1-3 with a homerun and a pair of RBIs, and Jaylee Willis finished 1-2 with a double and a run scored. Jaycee Kievit added a single and finished 1-3 at the dish.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Drovers will be back in action at home on Friday and Saturday April, 21-22, as they host a pair of important double-headers against Oklahoma Panhandle State University at Bill Smith Ballpark. First pitch of Friday's twin-bill is slated for 5:00 PM, followed by a 12:00 PM start time on Saturday.
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