LAFAYETTE, La. – The Oklahoma Baptist softball team pulled off its most significant victory in program history in a 2-1 upset of the No. 3 ranked Bronchos of Central Oklahoma before falling 1-0 against No. 24 Mississippi College on day two of the Mardi Gras Invitational.
GAME ONE VS. CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
Today's win over UCO is the first win over a top-five opponent in Oklahoma Baptist history. Furthermore, it was a revenge game for the Bison, who suffered a heartbreaking loss to Central Oklahoma in last season's NCAA Division II Central Regional tournament.
Pitcher Kayleigh Jones earned her first win of the year on the back of a nine-strikeout performance. She surrendered three hits and walked four batters in a complete game of work.
OBU's bats charted five connections against All-American pitcher Terin Ritz. Sophomore third baseman Ally Ryan went 2-for-2 at the plate and brought a runner in, while the remaining hits came from Emily Adler, Sammie Greene, and Adi Reese. Adler's strike also resulted in an RBI.
After two and a half innings of silence, Ryan singled to center and sent Reese across for the season's first score.
UCO's Rylee Lemos retaliated in the bottom of the frame, homering to knot the game at one-all.
Jones shook off the feat and regained control, fanning the next two Bronchos to retire the side. The senior twirler kept her cool the rest of the way, accounting for five more punch-outs.
By then, the green and gold had tacked on another run in the sixth. An Adler dart to the second baseman was mishandled, granting Greene, who reached base on a triple, clearance across the plate.
GAME TWO VERSUS MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE
Freshman Maggie Place stepped into the circle for her first start as a Bison. Despite an early run, Place tallied six strikeouts and gave up two hits in six innings. Placed also forced 10 ground-outs and two fly-outs.
At the plate, OBU's lone connection came from Adler.
In the inaugural frame, three Bison reached base. Adler started things off with a walk before Kennedy Clark got to base on a fielder's choice. Then, Reese claimed her spot on the bags after MC recorded its second error of the inning.
However, with two outs of the board, the Lady Choctaws retired OBU in the next at-bat as Adler tried to advance home after a Cassidy Morrow connection.
At the bottom of the frame, MC's Jordan LaFosse homered to put the opposition on top 1-0.
Down the stretch, Place and the Bison held their own but failed to chart a score despite leaving multiple on the base paths.
NEXT UP
Oklahoma Baptist returns for the final day of the Mardi Gras Invitational for back-to-back games: Texas A&M University Kingsville at 9:00 a.m. and Union at 11:30 a.m.
