ADA, Okla. – A nine-run outburst in the third inning carried No. 25 Oklahoma Baptist (28-9, 13-5) to its third mercy-rule win of 2023 as they defeated East Central (17-15, 10-8) 11-2 on Friday to begin their weekend series in Ada.
The Bison ripped off 13 hits and batted in 10 runners while limiting the Tigers to just six hits. It was OBU's 13th double-digit hit game of the season.
In the circle, after surrendering a home run in the first inning, senior Kayleigh Jones settled in and allowed just one run the rest of the way while striking out five.
After spotting ECU a 1-0 lead, OBU unleashed eight hits in the third frame to go ahead 9-1. Sammie Greene brought the first run in on an RBI single before Emily Adler knocked in the second with a single.
Two batters later, freshman Kennedy Clark pushed the lead to 3-1 before an Adi Reese single scored Morgan Max and E. Adler. The frame's last two runs came via RBI singles from Sydney Adler and Reagan Ford.
Jones and company provided another clean slate at the bottom of the frame, retiring the Tigers after allowing two on bags.
In the fifth, Reese smacked her second two-bagger of the contest to plate Shelby Warden and provide a 10-1 cushion. The Bison tacked on their final score in the following inning on a Zoey Johnson home run, her second of the season.
East Central squeezed out a run in the bottom of the fifth to draw the tally 10-2, but it was to no avail as an eight-score lead called for the game to end early.
Jones picked up her 20th win of the season, one shy of tying her career-best of 21 victories achieved a season ago.
Reese paced OBU with a 3-for-3 showing that saw three RBIs. It was her third three-hit game in 2023. Clark recorded two hits in three at-bats while eight other Bison made one connection and S. Adler batted in two runners.
Oklahoma Baptist looks to clinch the series tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
