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CHICKASHA – The Drovers handed the No. 1 Oklahoma City Stars their second loss and first shutout of the season in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, which was the annual Pink Out Cancer series for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
USAO (30-7, 13-3) took the first game over the Stars (44-2, 21-1) with a 3-0 final. It was OCU’s first shutout, first conference loss and second overall loss of the 2015 season, which is nearing its end. On the day, the Drovers split as OCU took game two 11-3.
While it was the first time OCU was shut out, it was USAO pitcher Summer Leitka’s (Seminole tribe) ninth shutout of the season. Leitka (19-2) pitched the complete game, her 17th, and gave up just four hits to the No. 1 team in the country. She struck out two batters.
The Drovers scored their first run in the second inning after Ciara Kuestersteffen returned home on a couple OCU errors. Kuestersteffen went 1-for-2 in the game.
In the next inning, USAO grabbed its next two runs when Shania Beck hit a single to left field, which scored Tate Landmark and Courtney Capps. Both Landmark and Capps recorded a hit in that inning and went 1-for-3 in the game.
Leitka and the Drovers held the Stars for the remainder of the game to take the shutout. But the second game was an offensive bounce back for the Stars thanks in part to three home runs.
After OCU took a 1-0 lead in the second, USAO tied it in the bottom of the fourth when a sacrifice fly by Beck scored Dani Warren, who earned her spot on base with a single earlier in the inning.
Two more USAO runs came in the bottom of the sixth. The first two batters, Kayla Adams and Kuestersteffen, were walked. Then Sevie Carel singled to score Adams from second.
Kuestersteffen scored on Warren’s single to first base a few plays later. Warren went 2-for-3 in the game with an RBI and a run scored.
Leitka started game two and threw four strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings in the circle. Landmark and Jaci Booker each saw time pitching for the Drovers in the game. Booker threw two innings without giving up an earned run.
It was USAO’s annual Pink Out Cancer games, hosted by Drovers Against Cancer. The organization sold concessions and T-shirts while fans and the Drovers donned pink during the game.
The Drovers next game will be the home finale and Senior Day. The doubleheader against Southwestern Christian is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. at Bill Smith Ballpark.
