by FORT WORTH, Texas – It was a close battle until the top of the sixth when the Drovers would put up five runs to take the lead for good and grab Head Coach Jadyn Wallis’ 100th career win.
In game one, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (38-7, 21-3) was victorious with an 8-3 final in seven innings against Texas Wesleyan (16-26, 8-18). The 5-3 win in the final game of the doubleheader gave Wallis an overall record 101-57 in three seasons as the Drover head coach.
“Lots of hard work and blood, sweat and tears from me and my players accrued these wins, and I owe it to the hard work they give me every day,” Wallis said.
Another Drover also reached a milestone as pitcher Summer Leitka (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma) broke the school record for most strikeouts thrown in a season on the second batter she faced Sunday. Leitka tied the school record on Saturday when she threw 14 strikeouts in six innings against Southwestern Assemblies of God.
Leitka (26-3) threw seven strikeouts in the first game and six in the second to put the new record at 268 for the season.
The Lady Rams took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but a sacrifice fly by Tate Landmarkscored McKenna Eubank to cut the deficit before USAO went on to grab five runs in the top of the sixth.
With no outs in the top of the sixth and bases loaded, Kayla Adams singled up the middle to get the game-winner driving in two runs to take the 3-2 lead. Dani Warren and Landmark scored on the play.
The next two runs in the inning came off RBI ground outs from Ciara Kuestersteffen, scoring Mikeala Bray, and Shayla Lucas, who batted in Adams. Then Eubank drove in Hannah Neill on a fielder’s choice.
In the top of the seventh, Sevie Carel got her lone hit of the game to drive in the insurance run – scored by Adams and Courtney Capps — with a single up the middle to get the 8-2 lead.
The Lady Rams nabbed their final run in the bottom of the seventh to get the final count of 8-3.
In the finale of the doubleheader, USAO’s victory gave the Drovers their eight straight win.
Leitka started in the circle for game two and struck out another six batters to complete the sweep of the Lady Rams.
USAO scored two runs in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly by Landmark to score Eubank. A single by Capps two pitches later scored Kaylin Taylor for a 2-0 lead.
The next inning, the Drovers added two more runs when Eubank getting a successful squeeze bunt play to score Kuestersteffen and a single by Taylor sent Neill home.
The Drovers’ fifth run came in in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Carel to score Landmark before surrendering three runs to the Lady Rams to get the final outcome.
After the Texas two-step, the Drovers will finish off the season in Oklahoma with the third of four straight doubleheaders.
On Monday afternoon, the Drovers will take on No. 10 Saint Gregory’s in Shawnee with first pitch at 2 p.m.
The Drovers turn around to finish off the regular season and an eight-game road stretch with a doubleheader at No. 1 Oklahoma City. First pitch for the Tuesday doubleheader is set for 5 p.m.
