#6 USAO Falls in Extras against #1 OLLU, Will Play in Semifinals on Wednesday Afternoon

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Tuesday afternoon, the No. 6 seed University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (49-8, 31-5 SAC) suffered a tough 4-3 extra inning loss in the winner's bracket game of the 2024 NAIA Softball World Series against No. 1 Our Lady of the Lake University (56-3, 24-0 RRAC). The Drovers will now need to win an elimination game for a chance to face OLLU again in the championship game on Wednesday night. Additionally, the loss snapped USAO's 30-game win streak.

USAO and OLLU are familiar foes, having met earlier this season for a double-header in San Antonio in mid-February. The Saints won the first game 2-1 and 7-2 in the finale.  

On Tuesday, the game began with a scoreless first inning, but the Drovers got hot in the top of the second and scored a pair of runs to claim a 2-0 lead. The Saints responded with a solo-homer in the bottom half of the inning to cut the deficit in half. 

The Drovers extended the lead to 3-1 with one more run in the top of the fifth, but the Saints once again quickly responded with a pair of runs to pull the score even at 3-3 after five complete innings. 

Neither team scored in the sixth or seventh innings, forcing the game to go into extras, where OLLU was able to launch a walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth. 

As a team, USAO reached the bases on five hits, three walks, and one OLLU fielding error.  Meanwhile the Saints tallied only four hits and drew four walks. 

USAO's offense was led by a 2-3 performance from Kamryn James, which included a double and a run scored. Kinzie Williams concluded 1-3 with a run batted in, while Sophie Williams went 1-3 with a double and a run scored. Malea McMurtrey went 1-4 with a run scored. 

Sophie Williams delivered a solid performance in the circle, going all 7.2 innings, surrendering four runs on four hits, and she struck out five batters. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will be back in action in Columbus, Ga. for the semifinals on Wednesday, May 29 at 1:00 PM CT against the winner between No. 5 Oregon Tech and No. 7 Jessup. With a win, the Drovers would advance to the national championship game against No. 1 OLLU at 4:00 PM CT. The Drovers would need to defeat OLLU to force the "if necessary" game on Thursday at 10:00 AM CT. 

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