SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (17-13, 6-7 GAC) completed their three-game series with Harding on Saturday afternoon, falling by scores of 3-1 and 13-7. OBU saw an HU squad get hot late, as the Lady Bisons (21-8, 10-4 GAC) pumped out 13 hits in the series finale after finishing with five in the first game of the day.
GAME ONE
Harding hopped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, plating a runner via a double. After allowing one hit, Aspen Younce struck out three in the frame to retire the opposition.
Younce built on her momentum over the next three frames as she collected three more strikeouts and surrendered two hits.
Finally, Jocee Sparks woke the Bison offense up in the fourth with a solo shot over center to tie the ball game 1-1.
At the top of the following inning, Younce and company squeezed their way out of the inning after Harding loaded the bases. HU was on the verge of scoring, but the duo of Adi Reese and Samantha Campos caught a runner at home to build the defense's confidence. Younce would force two more fly outs to get out the inning without allowing a score.
Then Harding broke through, scoring two in the sixth. This would put a cap on their win as the Bison struggled to have luck inside the batter's box over the remaining frames.
Sparks' home run, her seventh of the season, was the highlight of OBU's offense. Two others, Sammie Greene and Stephanie McDonald, registered hits for the Bison as well.
Younce (L, 5-5) pitched a full game in the circle. She struck out eight, surrendered three runs, and faced 33 batters.
GAME TWO
The series finale produced a much higher scoring output, highlighted by 15 runs scored through the third and fourth inning. After Harding grabbed an early lead, Oklahoma Baptist responded with their best inning of the series.
OBU tallied eight runs in the third, started by two from Reagan Ford and Jocee Sparks.
With bases loaded, Samantha Campos singled to bring across Ford and advance another into scoring position. Then, Adi Reese reached on a fielder's choice to plate Sparks to tie the game at 2-2.
Gwyn Miller stepped up next to double into the Bisons' defense and collect two RBIs. Afterward, Sammie Greene's single into center crossed two more, granting OBU a 6-2 advantage.
Greene concluded the inning's scoring, courtesy of a Ford double, for a 7-2 lead. It was Ford's second hit of the inning.
However, Harding responded with eight runs in the next frame to claim the lead back, 10-7. The Bisons rode this train until the contest's conclusion, tacking on three more for the victory.
Ford registered a career-high three hits, as she scored a run and added an RBI. Gwyn Miller was 2-3 with two RBIs, while Greene collected one hit. Greene also brought in two while three others tallied a hit for OBU.
Four Bison saw time in the circle, led by Kayleigh Jones' 3.1 innings tenure. Jones struck out four and allowed seven runs. Shianne Eddings (L, 0-2) entered as her relief to face four batters before Aileen Avelar took her place.
Avelar pitched for a full inning before Aspen Younce rounded out the rotation, surrendering three runs in 3.0 innings of action.
Oklahoma Baptist will look to a new work week, starting with a midweek doubleheader with Southwest Baptist on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Bison Softball Park.
