OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. –
Emily Richardson hit a walk-off grand slam, while
Kayleigh Jones earned a pair of wins as the Oklahoma Baptist softball team swept opening day with wins over Nebraksa-Kearney and Northeastern State.
The Bison opened the season against the Lopers at UCO in Edmond and jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning after
Mia Moddelmog swiped second and scored Cheyanne Demaree from third for the 1-0 lead. Moddelmog would score later in the inning on a
Kylie Kawamura single.
OBU would push that lead to 3-0 in the fourth as
Shelby Savage was caught stealing second, but allowed Moddelmog to score from third.
The Bison seemed to be in control, but UNK stormed back with two runs in the fifth and two unearned runs in the sixth to suddenly take a 4-3 lead.
OBU would move to the bottom half of the seventh with their backs against the wall. Richardson would reach on an error and
Reagan Ford would come in to run, moving to second on a short ground out. Demaree would fly out to center field, but a throwing error from the Lopers evened the game at four apiece. Despite a Moddelmog double, the Bison could not muster another run and the game moved into extra innings.
Aspen Younce started the game for OBU and pitched 4.1 innings, while
Shianne Eddings came in relief for 1.1 innings. Younce was solid, striking out five batters and allowing two runs on five hits. However, the two combined for five walks and the Lopers took advantage of an OBU error in the sixth to come back and take the lead.
Jones came in relief with two down in the sixth and was dealing. She moved to the eighth inning and struck out two batters as OBU put the Lopers down in order.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Bison got three straight singles with one out to load the bases as
Sheyanne Sandoval, Kawamura, and
Asia Henry all reached safely. That set up Richardson, who took a 3-1 pitch and laced it over the left center wall for the walk-off grand slam.
Richardson was the lone Bison with an RBI, finishing with four on the afternoon, while Kawamura had an excellent start to her season, going 4-for-5 with a run scored. Moddelmog and
Kaytlyn Marsh each had a double, while Moddelmog added two runs scored and a stolen base. Demaree drew a pair of walks with a run scored.
Jones got the win, allowing no runs on no hits in relief to go with six strikeouts. Her number would be called on again as she took the rubber against the Riverhawks later in the afternoon at Oklahoma Christian, putting together another outstanding showing.
Jones went the distance against Northeastern in game two, allowing one earned run on three hits to go with eight strikeouts. Her only blemish was six walks, but the Bison offense built her a lead.
OBU got that lead with another big second inning as a Sandoval ground out gave the Bison a 1-0 lead. Kawamura followed with a safety squeeze to tack on another run and give Jones and the Bison defense an early two-run advantage.
In the fourth, OBU extended that lead to 4-0 off a throwing error from NSU, scoring a pinch running Ford, as well as a sacrifice fly from Kawamura, scoring
McKenna Anderson from third. Sandoval would add an RBI single in the fifth to move the lead to five.
It was more than enough for Jones despite a run in the sixth and seventh from the Riverhawks as she finished off her complete game and picked up her second win of the day.
Kawamura finished 1-for-2 with two RBI, while Sandoval drove in a pair.
Jocee Sparks finished 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in her Bison debut, while Anderson added a 1-for-3 day with a pair of runs scored.
OBU is back in action on Monday as they begin the day in Choctaw against Fort Hays State at 10 a.m. followed by a 3 p.m. showdown in Edmond against Cameron.
