SHAWNEE – After being swept at Cameron University on March 5, Oklahoma Baptist (10-10, 5-1 GAC) returns to the field this weekend at East Central.
On Friday, March 7, the teams will play a Great American Conference doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. before a Sunday, March 9 contest that also starts at 1.
Since the two programs started competing in the GAC, ECU holds a 14-13 series advantage. However, the Bison have won seven straight with their last defeat coming March 12, 2022. Here are notes on both teams.
Bison Notes
- OBU fell 4-3 and 9-8 to Cameron the other day. This season, the Bison have a 2-6 record in games decided by one run.
- Catcher Hailey Stanford has a team-high, six-game hitting streak. That's also a career-best for the junior from Wilburton, Oklahoma.
- Keep an eye out for junior third baseman Ally Ryan. She's found a better rhythm in the batter's box collecting hits in six of the last seven contests as well as homers in three of the last four.
- Ryan has 22 bombs in her career, fifth-most in OBU history.
- Speaking of home runs, OBU ranks No. 2 in the GAC and 35th nationally with 22 long shots.
- Also on the offensive end, the Bison have already stolen 50 bags this year. Heading into the weekend, that's a top-40 NCAA mark and third in the conference.
- OBU's pitching staff has been solid in 2025. The team's 3.36 ERA is fourth in the league while its 7.21 strikeouts per seven innings is slotted first.
- Jaycee Shaffer has posted team-bests with a 1.67 ERA, 71 strikeouts and six victories, which are a top-two league mark.
Tigers Notes
- East Central is coming off a 3-0 series sweep against Northwestern Oklahoma State.
- Following their sweep, Jami Watson won GAC player of the week, driving in seven runs and scoring three times in the series.
- The Tigers have been patient at the plate, drawing 80 walks this season. That mark is eighth in the nation and tops in the GAC.
- East Central's batting average of 0.335 is also second in the conference.
- Getting consistent baserunners, ECU's on-base percentage of 0.43 is 18th in Division II.
- Tigers batters convert these runners into 6.25 RBI per game, second in the conference.
- Three Tigers are in the top 20 in the nation in walks: Amiah Galcatcher (3), Carsyn Cox (16), and Caton Muncy (20).
- On the defensive side of the field, Elyse LeClair leads the GAC in assists with 44 and assists per game with 2.59.
- ECU pitchers have struggled to strike out opposing batters. At only 3.89 team strikeouts per game, they are 10th in the conference.
