by CHICKASHA – It was a perfect Senior Day for the Drovers as they topped Southwestern Christian in both games of the doubleheader, all while finding themselves in the NAIA Top 15 and watching senior catcher Kayla Adams set a new school record.
The NAIA released its weekly Coaches Poll and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (32-7, 15-3) jumped from 20, a spot the Drovers have held for a few weeks, to No. 14, the highest the team has been in a decade.
On Tuesday, Adams hit her 21st home run of her career to take the school record for career homers. She tied team trainer Leslie Beaty, who has held the record since 2009, earlier this month. Further, Adams grabbed the career RBI record in February.
The Drovers shutout the Lady Eagles (11-23, 5-15) with a 4-0 final in the first game and took the second game 7-1. With the wins, Coach Jadyn Wallis is just five wins away from 100 in three seasons.
Additionally, the Drovers remain undefeated against the Lady Eagles, having won all 12 of the matchups since 1998.
Pitcher Summer Leitka (21-3) had another dominant performance in the circle for the Drovers. She threw a season-high 13 strikeouts in the first game while giving up just two hits in the shutout, her 10th of the season.
In the second game, Leitka earned a second win. She threw the final four and one-third innings of the game, striking out nine batters without giving up a single hit or walk.
Leitka (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma) now has 227 strikeouts on the season and was ranked fourth in the NAIA in total batters struck out and in total wins before the doubleheader began.
Jaci Booker pitched the first two and two-thirds innings of game two and recorded one strike out.
The Drovers started the doubleheader strong when Tate Landmark hit a double to left center, which scored Dani Warren, in the first inning of the opening game. The play was immediately followed by a homer down the left line by senior Courtney Capps.
USAO maintained its 3-0 lead until the fourth inning. In that inning, Shania Beck hit her second triple of the season and returned home when Ciara Kuestersteffen singled to left center for the game’s final score.
The second game started slower but ended with 11 Drover hits, two of which were home runs.
Lead-off hitter Kaylin Taylor scored on an error in the first inning, and the Eagles tied it up in the second inning.
The Drover offense came alive in the third inning as USAO loaded the bases with no outs. A sacrifice fly by Landmark scored McKenna Eubank and then a sacrifice bunt by Capps scored Taylor.
The fifth inning was highlighted by back-to-back homers. Adams’ home run scored Beck and Landmark as well as herself. With the bases cleared, freshman Shayla Lucas hit her first career homer.
The final inning and a half went scoreless as the Drovers took the 7-1 victory.
Being Senior Day, the Drovers honored their four seniors, all set to graduate on Friday. The seniors are Kayla Adams, Courtney Capps, Sevie Carel and Hannah Neill.
The Drovers have another five doubleheaders — all of which are on the road — to round out the season. They travel to Mid-America Christian on Thursday afternoon. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m.
They then head to Texas for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at Southwestern Assemblies of God and a Sunday doubleheader at Texas Wesleyan.
