SHAWNEE – The No. 23 Oklahoma Baptist Bison cruised to a 6-0 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State to open its best-of-three series on Thursday night. OBU improves its record to 31-9, which includes a 16-5 mark in GAC play, hoping to take the series in tomorrow's doubleheader.
Kayleigh Jones posted her 10th shutout while striking out four, walking two, and surrendering one hit to earn her 22nd victory. After Jones gave up her lone hit to the first batter she faced, the senior tightened up and dominated Bulldogs the rest of the way.
All but two of OBU's runs came in two-out jams in the batter's box, highlighted by a three-run bomb from freshman Ally Ryan. It was her first career home run on Bison Hill.
Adi Reese drove in two scores on a hit, while Sammie Greene's RBI triple brought in another.
Greene added a stolen base, her 10th of the year, while Morgan Max registered a hit.
Tonight's first two frames were scoreless as near-perfect work in the field from Jones and the Bison defense allowed just two on base.
A 1-2-3 outing from SWOSU at the top of the third inning allowed OBU to post its first run of the contest, courtesy of a Greene shot down the right-field line that scored Reagan Ford.
Silence fell over the park for the next frames until Reese kick started a Bison hitting frenzy in the sixth. With two on base, Reese singled to plate Shelby Warden and Meghan Roberts for a 3-0 advantage.
A couple of batters later, Ryan pushed the lead to 6-0 with her moonshot over center field.
OBU ended any chance of a rally in the final frame as Jones forced two fly-outs and a ground-out to cement the victory.
The teams will return to tomorrow to conclude the series at 1 p.m.
