WICHITA, Kan. – The Oklahoma Baptist softball team (16-9, 6-4 GAC) racked up 10 hits in back-to-back games to go 2-0 in their midweek series against Newman University (6-12, 1-3 MIAA) on Tuesday night. OBU took game one 8-1 and rallied back to win the finale 6-3 after a tie at the conclusion of seven warranted extra time.
Pitcher Kayleigh Jones was lights out again, earning two wins in two appearances. Jones struck out 15 batters in 7.1 innings of action, including 10 through her first five frames. Additionally, she surrendered just one run in the circle.
Freshman Samantha Campos had herself a day as well, accounting for a home run in the first game and giving the team exactly what they needed with two RBI's late in the finale.
GAME ONE
Newman got on board early in the first game, scoring on a Bison error to draw the tally 1-0 in the beginning frame.
OBU rebounded from a scoreless start to chart a run at the top of the second, courtesy of a Campos home run into center field, tying the ball game.
A defensive battle ensued over the next two, including three consecutive strikeouts from Kayleigh Jones at the bottom of the fourth to retire the opposition after they loaded the bases.
Oklahoma kick started the scoring with an exclamation point in the next frame as Jocee Sparks smashed a three-run homer, her sixth of the season, to give her squad a 4-1 advantage.
Again, Newman saw three straight batters make the trek back to the dugout after facing Jones in the bottom of the fifth.
The Bison's good fortune continued as a Stephanie McDonald pinch hit resulted in a two-run home run, her second of the season, granting OBU a comfortable 6-1 lead. However, Oklahoma Baptist was not done.
In the same inning, Emily Richardson tacked on two more with a double into center to plate Adi Reese and Sheyanne Sandoval.
The fireworks subsided with the Bison defense cemented the win in the final two frames.
Sparks went 2-4 with a team-best three RBIs while Richardson batted in two. McDonald homered in her only at-bat while Campos was credited with the last run.
Adi Reese and Sheyanne Sandoval registered two hits and scored twice, while Gwyn Miller collected the last hit for the Bison.
Jones struck out 11, allowed four hits, and one run. She spent 5.0 innings in the circle before Aspen Younce checked in as relief for the remaining frames. Younce faced six and tallied one strikeout.
GAME TWO
OBU's offensive power remained intact through the intermission as a Jocee Sparks double-crossed Sheyanne Sandoval for the game's first score in the inagural inning.
The Bison struck gold again in the third, plating one off an Adi Reese home run for a 2-0 lead.
Newman woke up from their slumber with a two-run shot in the fourth to tie the ball game. Then, the Jets followed with a single score in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead.
Gwyn Miller responded with a single, scoring Campos, to tie the contest in the sixth.
After a scoreless seventh, extras were called upon.
Oklahoma Baptist erupted for three at the top of the eighth, beginning with a Campos double that sent two across home plate. The scoring didn't stop there.
A Sammie Greene single brought around Campos and gave OBU a 6-3 lead. Like clockwork, Kayleigh Jones took care of business and allowed zero runs to close out the game.
Campos put together a 2-2 showing at the plate, including two RBIs and two scored runs. Reese collected a home run while six other Bison registered hits.
Aspen Younce started in the dish, allowing two runs and four hits in 3.1 innings of work. Shianne Eddings entered as relief, pitching through 2.0 innings and facing 10. Eddings struck out two before Jones wrapped up the game with a flawless appearance through 2.1 innings.
Oklahoma Baptist will return to action tomorrow, as they'll travel to Fort Hays State for a two-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
