LAFAYETTE, La. – The Oklahoma Baptist (3-0, 0-0 GAC) softball team stunned nationally ranked Texas A&M Kingsville (0-1, 0-0 LSC) 6-0 before defeating Midwestern State (0-2, 0-0 LSC) 3-0 to sweep its second day at the Mardi Gras Invitational in Louisiana.
OBU's victory over the Javelinas is the first top-10 win in the Division II era of Bison softball and the first top-25 triumph since Oklahoma Baptist bested No. 22 Southern Arkansas 3-2 in 2021.
The Bison have scored 17 runs and surrendered just one through three games in the Bayou State.
Game 1
Pitcher Kayleigh Jones took down 11 Javelinas to break the all-time Bison record for strikeouts, eclipsing Destini Anderson's record (473) that stood for nearly 22 years. The sum today brings Jones' career total to 474.
For the weekend, Jones has fanned 23 in 12.0 innings of work. Against Texas A&M Kingsville, she pitched a complete 7.0 innings and surrendered four hits to the nation's sixth-ranked lineup.
The highly touted opposition was no match for the Bison, as they managed just four hits to OBU's seven. Texas A&M Kingsville had chances but failed to capitalize, leaving six on base for the contest.
Jones owned the circle from the start, striking out the first two batters she faced. TAMUK singled in its next at-bat, but an Emily Adler and Adi Reese connection retired the Javelinas at second base.
OBU went scoreless at the bottom of the frame before erupting for four runs in the second, its highest scoring inning of the weekend. After reaching base on a walk, Gwyn Miller singled to score Reese for the game's first points.
A few batters later, Reagan Ford sent Alleyna Rushing and Miller across home plate to put Oklahoma Baptist ahead by three. Then a Jocee Sparks single capped the fireworks, sending Ford in for run number four.
The Bison's good fortune continued in the fourth, courtesy of an E. Adler single into center field that tacked on two more runs.
The Oklahoma Baptist defense and Jones were on one accord the rest of the way, limiting the Javelinas to just one hit on the way to its largest win in program history.
Game 2
OBU didn't allow a run for a second straight contest as diligent work in the circle again paid dividends. UT-Arlington transfer Morgan Max pitched a complete game, fanning seven while giving up three hits.
Max's work extended to the plate as she registered a hit in two at-bats.
Oklahoma Baptist charted seven hits, including two from Adi Reese. The senior second baseman also scored a run to lead the OBU lineup.
Ford, Sydney Adler, and Rushing added a hit apiece, highlighted by a score from S. Adler.
OBU came out slow, going three and out to open the contest. Midwestern State managed a hit at the bottom of the frame, but it was to no avail as Max forced a ground out to retire the opposition and prompt the second inning.
The story remained the same for the next four innings until OBU found its groove in the sixth. A Sydney Adler pinch hit resulted in a single into center field that sparked the effort.
Max followed the action with a hit that advanced S. Adler to second. Following a Samantha Campos sacrifice bunt and Reese walk, an Ally Ryan sacrifice fly sent S. Adler across home plate.
Then, Sammie Greene singled to bring around Meghan Roberts, who pinch-ran for Max, for a 2-0 lead. The frame's final score occurred in the next at-bat as Ford plated Reese with a single to third base.
Max allowed one hit in the sixth before closing the game in the bottom of the seventh with a couple of pop-ups.
Tomorrow, Oklahoma Baptist wraps up its stay in Louisiana with games against Union University at 11:30 a.m. and Mississippi College at 4:30 p.m.
