ALVA, Okla. – Oklahoma Baptist (23-18, 11-11 GAC) scored six runs in the opening inning to garner an early lead before dominating Northwestern Oklahoma State (13-21, 7-15 GAC) 7-2 and taking game one of the series on Friday evening in Alva.
Tonight marks the ninth consecutive victory over the team from the north, as the last Ranger win came in 2019.
The nation's strikeout leader showed up again tonight.
Kayleigh Jones pitched a complete game, striking out 13 to match her career-high in the circle. Jones now has 15 games with double-digit strikeouts.
She faced 25 batters and allowed two earned runs.
Offensively,
Samantha Campos matched her season-high with three hits at the plate. Campos recorded two RBIs to lead the Bison, while
Stephanie McDonald went a perfect 2-2.
McDonald led a group of four other Bison to tally an RBI as Oklahoma Baptist finished with double-digit hits for the 13th time this season.
Adi Reese and
Sammie Greene started the first inning fireworks with back-to-back hits to place two Bison on base. Shortly afterward, Campos singled through the right side to bring around the one-hole and two-hole batters.
Then, McDonald sent
Shelby Warden across home plate with a single into center field for a 3-0 Bison lead.
After
Sheyanne Sandoval walked,
Emily Smith brought Campos home before McDonald scored to increase the advantage to five.
Following a Ranger error, Sandoval made her way around to conclude the frame's scoring.
The game's scoring went silent for two whole innings until Northwestern squeezed out two in fourth, their only scores on the night.
At the bottom of the fifth, Warden would chart OBU's seventh and final score, courtesy of a Sandoval ground-out.
Oklahoma Baptist looks to claim the series tomorrow as they'll conclude their road trip in a doubleheader with the Rangers. The games are slated to begin at noon.
