ADA, Okla. – No. 25 Oklahoma Baptist earned the series sweep over East Central with a pair of wins in Saturday's doubleheader, defeating ECU 5-4 and 1-0.
OBU (30-9, 15-5) claimed its 30th win of the season in the finale, something that has only happened once in the Division II era. A season ago, the Bison piled up 33 wins, a figure they look to surpass with 13 regular season games remaining. Furthermore, today marked the third GAC series sweep in 2023.
GAME ONE
East Central built a 2-0 lead after shutting out the Bison in the opening frame of the contest. ECU's Jami Watson escaped a two-out jam with a double into right field to plate two of her teammates before a fly-out ended the inning.
OBU was kept at bay for another frame before an Emily Adler RBI single scored Sydney Adler to mark the tally 2-1 in the third.
The Bison defense stiffened in the following inning, blanking the opposition to allow a three-run surge in the fourth frame.
After Kennedy Clark and Adi Reese reached base on a double and a walk, respectively, Ally Ryan brought the duo across home plate with a double to put the Bison ahead 3-2. Then Gwyn Miller scored the inning's final run on a wild pitch for a two-run OBU cushion.
At the bottom of the inning, Aspen Younce forced a line-out and struck out one while Samantha Campos caught a runner stealing to retire the Tigers.
Oklahoma Baptist earned its final run in the fifth, courtesy of an error on the pitcher that allowed Sammie Greene to cross the plate.
However, the Tigers didn't back down as two runs in the sixth made the score 5-4. The rally came to a halt when Kayleigh Jones, who entered as relief in the sixth, struck out one batter before forcing two fly-outs to crush ECU's momentum.
The final inning produced no extra scores as the Bison defense buckled down to secure the win.
Aspen Younce (6-2) earned her sixth win of the season after twirling 4.0 innings and surrendering two runs. Jaycee Shaffer appeared in relief for Younce, giving up two hits, before Jones entered to collect the save in 2.0 innings of work. Jones fanned three and allowed one hit.
Clark and E. Adler posted 2-for-3 showings, while Ally Ryan led the squad with two RBIs on one hit.
GAME TWO
Two scoreless frames passed before Clark, still hot from game one, singled to plate Sammie Greene for a 1-0 Bison advantage.
In the following inning, OBU took down ECU 1-2-3 to complete a frame that saw zero batters from either side reach base.
Despite registering a hit in the next three innings, East Central left four on bags as they struggled to find their way to home plate. Meanwhile, the Bison charged to victory, capped by a forced fly-out from Kayleigh Jones in the final inning to stamp the sweep.
Jones punched out six batters in her 18th complete game and ninth shutout of the year, improving her record to 21-5.
In the batter's box, reigning GAC Player of the Week Sammie Greene charted her first three-hit of the season en route to a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Greene would also score a run while two other Bison registered a hit.
Oklahoma Baptist turns its attention to a three-game series with Southwestern Oklahoma State at home next week. Game one on Thursday is scheduled for 5 p.m.
