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#1 USAO Seeks a Three-Peat as they Advance to the SAC Tournament Championship Game for the Seventh Year in a Row

#1 USAO Seeks a Three-Peat as they Advance to the SAC Tournament Championship Game for the Seventh Year in a Row

CHICKASHA, Okla. – On Saturday, the No. 1 seed University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (46-7, 33-3 SAC) advanced to the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament championship game for the seventh year in a row with a thrilling 2-1 win against No. 8 Wayland Baptist University (22-30, 14-22 SAC). With the win, the Drovers improve to 10-0 against the Pioneers all-time, dating to February 2024. 

 

During USAO's current 15-game win streak, they have outscored opponents 115-20. Through 53 games this season, USAO has tallied 10 or more hits on 27 different occasions, and they have earned 19 wins via the run-rule. The pitching staff has also been terrific, producing a 1.84 earned run average with 282 strikeouts in 331.0 innings. Furthermore, USAO has held opponents to a .209 batting average, while the Drovers offense owns a .360 average at the dish. 

 

Wayland Baptist gave the Drovers all they could handle in the semifinals and jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. The Pioneers controlled the lead until the bottom of the fourth when Leighanne Eaton launched a two-run, go-ahead home run. The Drovers used stellar pitching and defense to wrap up the win in the final innings.

 

As a team, the Drovers offense produced 10 hits and did not draw a walk, while the Pioneers were held to only four hits, and three free passes. WBU was perfect on defense and USAO committed one fielding error. 

 

The Drover offense was led by a trio of two-hit performances from Sierra Selfridge, Leighanne Eaton, and Shaylann Grace. Eaton finished 2-3 and crushed her sixth home run of the season. Selfridge and Grace each singled twice.

Kinzie Williams, Malea McMurtrey, Jaylee Willis, and Taylor Cronic each singled once in the win.

 

Jayden Anderson got the start in the circle for USAO and was stellar as she improved her record to 11-3 this season. Anderson surrendered only one run on four hits, and she struck out four batters. In her career, Anderson owns a 26-5 record, along with a 1.78 earned run average and she has struck out 172 batters in 200.2 innings of work. 

 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will return to action on Sunday (May 4) for the SAC Tournament championship game against No. 2 Oklahoma City University. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM CT at Bill Smith Ballpark. USAO and OCU have faced off in each of the last seven championship games since 2018, with each team winning three tourney titles. 

For more information about the SAC Tournament CLICK HERE.

 

 

 

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