Softball 02.09 KJ Reid | Assistant AD for Creative Media

Bison Geared Up for MSU Round-Up

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (5-0, 0-0 GAC) softball looks to build upon its historic start with a trip to the Lone Star state for the Midwestern State Round-Up.

OBU is set to take on Fort Hays State (9 AM) and Cameron (2 PM) on Friday before wrapping up the tournament against Rockhurst University (2 PM) and Midwestern State (7 PM) on Saturday. All games will be played at Mustangs Park on the campus of MSU. Full tournament information can be found here.

The Bison produced a 5-0 record at the Mardi Gras Invitational to kick off its 2023 campaign last weekend. On top of it being the best start in the Division II era, OBU took down its first nationally ranked opponent since 2021 in a 6-0 thumping of No. 6 Texas A&M Kingsville.

Oklahoma Baptist allowed just two runs, finishing the tournament with a 26-2 scoring margin that included three shutouts. Furthermore, the Bison are one of two teams in the Great American Conference off to an undefeated start.

Much of the success can be credited to the elite pitching rotation for the Bison, including the new all-time OBU record holder for career strikeouts, Kayleigh Jones. Behind Jones, the women in the circle recorded a 0.40 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 35.0 innings. The team earned run average ranks second in the country, while its total sit-downs are fifth most.

Jones was spectacular in three appearances, tallying 30 strikeouts while surrendering one run en route to a 3-0 record. She now has 37 career wins, which is seventh in program history. The performance was worthy of her sixth career GAC Pitcher of the Week honor. Jones ranks fifth in DII for strikeouts, only six behind the nation's leader (Katie Korstrom, 36), who has two more appearances.

Morgan Max and Aspen Younce joined Jones in the rotation, combining for 17 strikeouts. Younce picked up her 27th career win against Union after fanning five without giving a run in 5.0 innings. UTA transfer Max earned her first Bison win against Midwestern State with a complete-game shutout that saw seven strikeouts.

In the box, Butler CC transfer Emily Adler is off to a hot start. She batted a team-best .529 (9-17) last week, highlighted by a four-hit game against Union. Adler added team highs in hits (9) and RBIs (7). Additionally, she stole four bases, which ranks 11th in DII.

Her twin sister, Sydney Adler, hit .800 after tallying four hits in five at-bats. Her two scored runs were instrumental in the Bison's 7-0 run route of Union.

Freshman Alleyna Rushing charted three hits after making three starts in four games, joining third baseman Ally Ryan as the only Bison freshman to draw a trio of starts thus far. Ryan hit .429, while collecting a double and an RBI.

Adi Reese was one of two Bison to collect a triple, as she registered four hits and stole a bag. Catcher Samantha Campos hit the only home run of the weekend, the sixth of her career, and recorded the second-most RBIs on the squad. Furthermore, she earned a .979 fielding percentage with 44 putouts.

Here's a quick look at the weekend's opponents:

Team
Fort Hays State (Fri., 9 a.m.)	Record: 0-0 (0-0 MIAA)	Stats
Cameron (Fri., 2 p.m.)	Record: 0-2 (0-0 LSC)	Stats
Rockhurst (Sat., 2 p.m.)	Record: 0-0 (GLVC)	Stats
Midwestern State (Sat., 7 p.m.)	Record: 0-4 (0-0 LSC)	Stats

For more information on OBU Softball, follow the team on Twitter (@OBU_Softball) and Instagram (@OBU_Softball).

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Players Mentioned

#1 Emily Adler: INF; 5' 6"; Senior; L/R

#2 Aspen Younce: P; 5' 4"; Fifth Year; R/R

#5 Sydney Adler: OF; 5' 6"; Senior; L/R

#6 Adi Reese: INF; 5' 4"; Senior; R/R

#7 Alleyna Rushing: OF; 5' 6"; Freshman; L/R

#13 Ally Ryan: INF; 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R

#24 Morgan Max: P/UTL; 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/L

#25 Kayleigh Jones: P; 5' 10"; Senior; R/R

#20 Samantha Campos: C; 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#1 Emily Adler
: 5' 6"; Senior; L/R
: INF

#2 Aspen Younce
: 5' 4"; Fifth Year; R/R
: P

#5 Sydney Adler
: 5' 6"; Senior; L/R
: OF

#6 Adi Reese
: 5' 4"; Senior; R/R
: INF

#7 Alleyna Rushing
: 5' 6"; Freshman; L/R
: OF

#13 Ally Ryan
: 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R
: INF

#24 Morgan Max
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; L/L
: P/UTL

#25 Kayleigh Jones
: 5' 10"; Senior; R/R
: P

#20 Samantha Campos
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R
: C