SHAWNEE -- In a closely contested battle at Bison Softball Park, Oklahoma Baptist got some timely defensive plays and crucial homer from
Greenlee Wells to hold off Southwestern Oklahoma State, 3-2, on Friday in Great American Conference play.
The green and gold won their fourth straight in the process and improved to 9-7 overall and 4-0 in the GAC.
Competition remained scoreless through three as both teams struggled to find offensive momentum. SWOSU broke the deadlock in the top of the fourth when Taylor McMahon reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Emily Wedel to score.
Oklahoma Baptist responded in the bottom half of the frame. After
Ally Ryan singled and
Kaylee Davis pinch ran, Wells delivered the decisive offensive moment: a two-run bomb to right-center, giving the Bison a 2-1 lead. For Wells, it was her fourth straight game with a homer, not previously achieved by any other Bison player in the D2 era.
The Bison added an insurance run in the fifth when
Kaley Cook reached on a single, stole two bags, and came home on a fielder's choice from
Sammie Greene. At the point, it was 3-1 OBU.
Southwestern nearly tied it in the seventh. Skyla McPhillips singled and later scored on a two-out RBI single from Chesnie Hewitt, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Then, Kaylee Barkley lifted a shot into right-center, however, a diving Greene snagged the ball just in time and secured the final out to clinch the OBU win.
Among the other key defensive plays, in the sixth, Wells turned a liner into a double play and back in the fourth after SWOSU loaded the bases with no outs, the green and gold's defense would allow just one run.
Jaycee Shaffer (6-0) went the distance for the Bison, allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out three.
Both teams return to action tomorrow for a noon doubleheader in Shawnee.
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