LUBBOCK, Texas – The Oklahoma Baptist softball team (4-3, 0-0 GAC) rebounded from an early 5-0 loss to Colorado Christian (5-1, 0-0 RMAC) to beat Colorado School of Mines (0-6, 0-0 RMAC) 4-2, finishing 1-1 on day two of the Lubbock Sports College Invitational.
OBU registered five hits and surrendered two runs in the win after a tough go-around in the day's first contest.
Pitcher Kayleigh Jones's 12 strikeouts highlighted Friday night's victory. This marks the third time Jones has matched her career-high of a dozen put-outs in a single showing, totaling 43 this season.
In game one against Colorado Christian, the Bison started well, allowing one hit through the first two innings.
The Bison defense and starting pitcher Shianne Eddings were on one accord, as the score read 0-0 going into the third.
Then, CCU's Ke Middleton broke the game open, singling down the left-field line to send a Cougar across the plate. However, the OBU defense stood tall as Sheyanne Sandoval caught the final out to surrender one run in the inning.
Oklahoma Baptist came out in the next stanza to register their first of the game, courtesy of Sammie Greene. The freshman singled through the right side to earn a spot on base and breathe some life into OBU. Unfortunately, the Cougars followed with two outs to put the Bison out of the inning.
Besides two hits in the fifth, that would be the last of the Bison's good fortune as Colorado Christian added four runs to their total to win the contest.
Eddings (0-1) gets the loss after surrendering five runs in 3.2 innings of action. In the fourth, Aspen Younce came in as relief to strike out three and shut out the Cougars. Younce faced 12 batters.
Greene went 2-2 while teammate Samantha Campos charted one hit for the Bison.
The Oklahoma Baptist offense woke up in game two. After a scoreless beginning frame, freshman Aileen Avelar sparked the scoring with a two-run homer that brought around Samantha Campos.
Colorado School of Mines responded with a score at the top of the third before Kayleigh Jones sent the opposition to the dugout following a strikeout.
Like clockwork, OBU got back to it. In order, three Bison singled to load the bases at the bottom of the third. Then Adi Reese reached on a fielder's choice, sending Reagan Ford across home plate to draw the tally 3-1.
The hitting frenzy ended when Campos reached on a fielder's choice, plating Sammie Greene and giving the Bison a 4-1 lead.
Scoring went silent through the next two stanzas until the Mines managed a run at the top of the sixth.
The Oklahoma Baptist defense took the field once more in the seventh to strike out two and wrap up the final out at first base, solidifying tonight's victory.
Alvear led OBU with two RBI's, courtesy of her moon shot early in the contest. Campos and Adi Reese collected RBI's as well, rounding out the Bison's total.
Sheyanne Sandoval and Emily Richardson were among others who registered a hit tonight.
Jones (2-2) earned tonight's win, pitching a complete game with 12 strikeouts. She faced 28 batters and surrendered two runs in Friday's action.
OBU will conclude their time in Texas tomorrow with games against Fort Lewis at 10 a.m. and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs at noon.
