SHAWNEE – Sophomore Morgan Max collected five RBIs on two home runs to help #23 Oklahoma Baptist earn its second consecutive sweep and seventh straight win in Friday's doubleheader against Southwestern Oklahoma State.
The Bison (33-9, 18-5) took game one 5-2 before blanking the Bulldogs in the finale to win by mercy rule, 9-0. OBU has now matched its DII single-season best for wins in a season (33), attained a season ago.
Max led a stellar batting lineup that produced 20 hits, as she finished 3-for-5 and totaled nine bags. Max also stepped into the circle to fan four batters without giving up an earned run in 3.0 innings of work.
However, the pitching dominance of Aspen Younce and Kayleigh Jones provided OBU with a clean slate. Younce earned her seventh win of the season in game one, punching out five batters while surrendering one run in 4.0 innings.
Jones got the start in the finale, and after 4.0 innings of near-flawless work, she earned her 23rd victory of the season. The triumph ties the all-time Bison record for wins in a season, held by Hannah Wilbur.
GAME ONE
Southwestern opened with a run in the inaugural inning, courtesy of a Katie Boline RBI double, to chart its first lead of the series.
OBU quickly responded in the bottom frame, reclaiming the lead after Morgan Max cleared the bags with a two-run shot over right center.
After shutting out the opposition in the top of the following inning, the green and gold tacked on another via leadoff slapper Reagan Ford for a 3-1 advantage. In the third, Adi Reese pushed the lead to 4-1 with a ground-out RBI that scored Shelby Warden.
The contest went silent for an inning until Campos ushered in the Bison's final run facing a full count.
SWOSU squeezed out a score in the seventh on a throwing error, but the damage was done as Oklahoma Baptist charged on the victory.
Kennedy Clark, Campos, and Ford finished with two hits apiece, including an RBI from the latter two. Furthermore, Sammie Greene stole two bags, while Campos registered one.
GAME TWO
Oklahoma Baptist opened the rubber match with a six-run outburst, all attained with no outs on the board. An Emily Adler RBI double into left field ignited the spree before Max sent three across for a 4-0 cushion.
Three batters later, Campos doubled to plate Reese and Clark, who'd reached base on a single and walk. After a pitching change, SWOSU finally got ahold of the madness to retire the Bison.
Over the next three half-frames, Kayleigh Jones punched out four while surrendering one hit. Her consistency and the OBU defense paved the way for a three-run fourth inning to put the game away.
Sammie Greene went yard for the fourth time this season to score two before Meghan Roberts recorded her first career RBI on a single into right field.
Freshman pitcher Jaycee Shaffer entered in relief and got through the top of the fifth without giving up a hit or run to seal the win.
Greene, Max, and Campos lead all batters with two hits. Max and Greene combined for five RBIs, including three from Max.
Next up, Oklahoma Baptist travels down I-40 for a midweek contest at Southern Nazarene on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
