SHAWNEE – Senior pitcher Kayleigh Jones became the all-time Oklahoma Baptist leader for wins in OBU's sweep of Ouachita Baptist on Saturday afternoon. OBU (37-9, 22-5 GAC) defeated the Tigers (11-33, 5-22 GAC) 2-1 in game one before shutting out OUA 9-0 in five innings.
The finale victory marked the Bison's 14th shutout win of the season and the sixth triumph by mercy rule. Furthermore, OBU has now clinched a spot in the GAC Softball Championships on May 4-6 in Bentonville, Ark.
Jones twirled a complete 7.0 innings in game one to earn the 60th win of her career. She punched out 10 batters for a second-straight appearance and surrendered one earned run. She broke Keena Freeman's record of 59 wins, which stood for 20 years.
Senior pitcher Aspen Younce improved her record to 8-2 after a five-inning shutout in game two. Younce struck out five and nearly notched her first career no-hitter until the Tigers managed a connection early in the fourth inning.
Sammie Greene and Morgan Max ruled the day inside the batter's box with three RBIs apiece. Both tallied a home run and totaled six bags without striking out. Furthermore, it was the sixth home run of the season for the duo.
GAME ONE
Ouachita Baptist drew blood first in the opening inning on a two-out RBI, courtesy of Callie Jourdan, giving OUA their first lead of the series. They registered two hits in the half-inning before Kayleigh Jones struck out the last batter to avoid further damage.
Success was not found in OBU's at-bat as opposing pitcher Hannah Hunter retired the Bison 1-2-3 to force the second inning. This trend would continue for Hunter in the next four frames, as she surrendered just two hits.
Offensively, the Tigers recorded three hits but couldn't capitalize after leaving four on base.
Down 1-0 going into the sixth inning, OBU took back the reins. Jones stepped back into the circle to punch out two before forcing a pop-up to give her offense a boost of momentum.
At the bottom of the frame, a Greene single put the first Bison on base. In the next at-bat, Emily Adler reached on a fielder's choice before Morgan Max emptied the bags to put Oklahoma Baptist on top, 2-1.
Jones and company shattered OUA's hopes in the closing half-inning, as a strikeout and a couple of outs wrapped up the win.
Max finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Greene and Ally Ryan registered a hit apiece.
GAME TWO
OBU's bats came alive in the rubber match, chalking up nine scores on eight hits. Meanwhile, Ouachita went silent and tallied one hit.
Max started the party on a sacrifice fly that sent Greene across home plate for the first score. In the next at-bat, while Kennedy Clark reached on a throwing error, Emily Adler scored to put Oklahoma Baptist ahead 2-0.
After a scoreless frame, Adi Reese ignited a seven-run outburst in the third. Reese's RBI single plated E. Adler before Meghan Roberts scored the inning's second run on an OUA miscue.
Then an Ally Ryan RBI plated the fifth run before a Sydney Adler sacrifice fly crossed Reese.
Greene stamped the spree with a three-run blast for a 9-0 advantage.
Younce punched out three more the rest of the way to lead the Bison to another sweep.
Next up, Oklahoma Baptist travels to Henderson State April 21-22 for its last road series of the season.
