by CHICKASHA – In their Drover green on Saint Patrick’s Day, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma battled the Pioneers before coming out on top in both games of the doubleheader.
MidAmerica Nazarene (7-14), a team that was receiving votes nationally in the NAIA Preseason Top 25, grabbed quick leads in both games of Tuesday’s doubleheader, but the Drovers (19-4) fought back to win both.
In all, USAO has the 3-1 series lead over the Pioneers this season.
In the first game, the Pioneers scored four runs in the opening inning, and it took USAO eight innings to take the final 5-4 lead.
The Drovers grabbed their first three runs in the bottom of the third Tate Landmark, Mikeala Bray and Ciara Kuestersteffen returned home.
The tying run came in in the bottom of the next inning when Landmark doubled down the left line to score Kaylin Taylor, who’d singled to start the inning.
After three scoreless innings, the game went into extra innings, and the Drovers claimed the win as Hannah Neill scored off an RBI single by Landmark in the eighth. In all, Landmark went 4-for-5 in the game.
Summer Leitka (13-1) threw 11 strikeouts on her way to her 11th complete game so far this season. Only one of the Pioneer’s runs was earned.
In game two, the Drovers again came from behind to take the 7-3 victory as Shania Beck (1-0), normally USAO’s starting third baseman, earned her first win of the season in the circle after pitching five innings. It was her first start, and she struck out one batter.
Jaci Booker threw the final two innings without giving up a single hit.
USAO scored one run in the first inning and took the lead in the second with four additional runs. The Drovers added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Kuestersteffen scored twice while Dani Warren went 2-for-3 at the plate and Taylor went 2-for-4. Both Warren and Taylor scored a run and recorded an RBI in the game.
Kayla Adams, Sevie Carel and McKenna Eubank each scored as well.
The Drovers turn around to play four games of Sooner Athletic Conference action this weekend, first taking on Southwestern Assemblies of God in a home doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Friday. That game was originally scheduled for February, but was rescheduled due to weather. –
See more at: http://usao.edu/sports/softball/news/usao-takes-two-rv-midamerica-nazarene#sthash.tBk2QGTu.dpuf
