#3 USAO Run-Rules OPSU Twice to Sweep the Series

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Wednesday evening, the No. 3 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (35-7, 25-3 SAC) completed the four-game sweep with a pair of run-rule victories against Oklahoma Panhandle State University (22-20, 14-14 SAC). USAO only needed five innings to claim the run-rule wins in both games, claiming the first game 10-0, followed by a 9-1 triumph in the series finale. 

Back on March 31, the Drovers opened the series with a dominant 13-3 win, followed by a 12-1 victory in game two. In total, USAO outscored OPSU 44-5 in the series. With the sweep, the Drovers improve to 34-2 against the Aggies all-time, dating to March 2017.

The Drovers currently sit atop the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, 2.0 games ahead of No. 6 ranked Oklahoma City University. The top eight teams in the SAC standings advance to the conference tournament, which will take place at USAO and OCU from May 1-3. 

Through 42 games this season, USAO has tallied 10 or more hits on 19 different occasions, and they have earned 13 wins via the run-rule. The pitching staff has also been terrific, producing a 1.99 earned run average with 224 strikeouts in 271.0 innings. Furthermore, USAO has held opponents to a .212 batting average, while the Drovers offense owns a .345 average at the dish. 

GAME 1

USAO was in full control from start to finish in the first game of the day, cruising to a 10-0 win in five innings. 

The Drovers plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning on a double to right field by Shaylann Grace. The lead was extended to 5-0 in the second inning, courtesy of a solo-home run from Jadyn Goucher and a 2-RBI single off the bat of Sierra Selfridge. The Drovers added three more runs in the third, highlighted by a 2-RBI triple from Kamryn James. USAO added their final two runs in the fourth, prior to holding OPSU quiet in the top of the fifth.

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 10 hits and drew four walks, while the Aggies were held to only two hits and zero free passes. OPSU committed a pair of fielding errors, while USAO's defense was unblemished. 

Sophie Williams got the start in the circle and was nearly un-hittable as she improved her record to 19-4 this season. She pitched all 5.0 innings as she claimed her 36^th career shutout, surrendering only two hits while striking out seven batters. 

In her stellar career, Williams owns an 90-22 record, along with a 1.33 earned run average and 865 strikeouts in 707 innings of work. She owns 36 shutouts, five no-hitters, and seven perfect games since the start of 2022.

USAO's offense was led by a trio of two-hit performances. Shaylann Grace went 2-3 with a double and three runs batted in, while Sierra Selfridge went 2-3 with a double, a run scored, and two runs batted in. Malea McMurtrey concluded 2-3 with a run scored. 

Jadyn Goucher launched her seventh homer of the season as she went 1-2 at the plate with a walk and a pair of runs scored. Kamryn James returned to the lineup and went 1-2 with a triple and a pair of runs batted in.

GAME 2 

The offense stayed consistent and claimed a 9-1 win in the series finale. 

USAO wasted no time to take the lead, striking for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Both teams were held scoreless in the second inning, before OPSU scored its first run of the day in the top of the third. The Drovers answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the third to once again take a 3-run advantage. 

In the fourth inning, USAO three more runs to stretch the lead to 7-1, prior to walking off the contest with a two-run double off the bat of Sierra Selfridge. 

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 15 hits and drew one walk, while the Aggies were held to only four hits, and one free pass. OPSU committed one fielding error and USAO was perfect defensively.  

Five different Drovers tallied multiple hits in the finale, led by a perfect 4-4 performance from Malea McMurtrey. She drove in three runs and scored twice. 

Kamryn James was also perfect at the plate, going 3-3 with her second triple of the day, in addition to two runs scored. Jadyn Goucher finished 2-2 with a walk and a run scored. 

Sierra Selfridge concluded 2-4 with a double, a run scored, and four runs batted in, while Kinzie Williams went 2-4 with two runs scored. 

Shaylann Grace and Jaylee Willis each went 1-2 with a run batted in.  

Aubree Ferguson improved her record to 5-0 as she pitched the opening 2.2 innings, allowing only one run on four hits and she struck out one batter. Jayden Anderson pitched the final 2.1 scoreless innings and struck out three batters. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will quickly return to action on Thursday and Friday (April 17-18) as they host a pair of double-headers against Langston University. Thursday's double-header is scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM CT, and we will celebrate our cornerstone partners, Chicken Express and Standley Systems. Friday's twin bill will begin at 4:00 PM CT, and the Senior Night ceremony will take place between games one and two.   

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