ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Oklahoma Baptist softball team (9-5, 1-0 GAC) took care of business in the series-opening contest with Ouachita Baptist (4-10, 0-1 GAC), beating the Tigers 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Today's victory fuels OBU's momentum going into tomorrow's doubleheader as they'll look to rewrite the script from last year's series loss to the Tigers.
This game produced five straight scoreless innings until the Bison broke the game open in the sixth. During the stretch, pitcher Kayleigh Jones collected eight strikeouts, marking her fifth game with a least eight K's this season.
At the top of the sixth, Sammie Greene was walked and then stole second to place a Bison on base. Then Adi Reese tripled to center field on a full count, her second of the season, to plate Greene for a 1-0 OBU lead.
Sheyanne Sandoval would bat next and reach base on an Ouachita error, sending Reese across home plate for the inning's second run.
After the Tigers got out of the top half of the inning, Jones and company took care of the opposition, defensively, to give the offense another chance.
Oklahoma Baptist proceeded to tack on two more in the seventh, courtesy of Greene. The freshman smacked the second pitch of her count to the second baseman, who made a great diving stop but failed to make the routine throw to first.
Therefore, Greene reached the bag, allowing enough time to score two more and extend the Bison lead to 4-0.
At the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers managed one run late, but a 1-3 ground out sealed up the game and an Oklahoma Baptist victory.
Adi Reese and Sammie Green scored one apiece and charted the only RBIs for the Bison. Mia Moddelmog and Emily Smith also registered hits, while Moddelmog and Shelby Warden crossed home plate once.
Kayleigh Jones (5-3) struck out 10 and allowed one run in 7.0 innings of work. Out of the 32 batters faced, she surrendered six hits.
Monday's doubleheader is scheduled for noon at Sully Anderson Field on the campus of Ouachita Baptist.
