BRANSON, Mo. – Oklahoma Baptist fell in two close games to Emporia State and Maryville (MO) on Friday morning. Against the Hornets, the Bison lost 2-1 before a 3-1 decision against the Saints.
Tomorrow, the Bison will return to action against Drury and Southwest Baptist at 2 and 4 p.m.
GAME ONE
There were 15 combined strikeouts in the opener as Emporia edged OBU 2-1.
Gracie Rabe of Emporia tossed a complete game with six punchouts while
Jorja Barrett dialed up six of her own for OBU. Plus,
Jaycee Shaffer added three strikeouts in two innings of work.
Scoring was limited on Friday morning. The Hornets got two in the third when Brooke Flewelling doubled into the right center gap. That scored her teammates Sydney Wagner and Taryn Burkhardt.
As for the green and gold, after putting just one runner in scoring position through five frames,
Morgan Max connected with a two-out single up the middle and plated
Meghan Roberts.
OBU's last chance saw Rabe retire the side in the seventh to keep ESU ahead 2-1. Outside of Max and Roberts, only
Ayzia Shirey was able to snag another hit for the Bison.
GAME TWO
OBU claimed a 1-0 lead early courtesy of freshman
Kaley Cook. In the top of the second, and after freshman
Haley Hacker delivered a triple down the right-field line, Cook sent another ball down the same spot and pushed her teammate across home.
That 1-0 advantage was short-lived, though, as the Saints rallied in the third. Maryville's first two batters that frame, Ryli Metcalf and Payton Deakin, doubled and singled to get things going for the Great Lakes Valley Conference school.
A couple batters later, back-to-back RBI singles from Jenna Kosnoff and Isabella Garcia lifted Maryville in front, 2-1. The scoring was then capped off by Kaitlyn Wagner who singled in Kosnoff for what turned out to be the game's final run.
The Bison threatened in the fourth following a hit-by-pitch to
Ally Ryan and
Abby Laskowski single. However, Saints pitcher Chayse Ramey retired 12 of the next 13 batters to preserve victory for Maryville.
Senior
Sammie Greene reached base three times during the game with one hit and two walks while five total Bison recorded a hit. In the circle, Max tossed six frames, struck out a career-high nine batters and allowed three runs.
