SHAWNEE -- A three-run homer from
Greenlee Wells and lockdown pitching powered Oklahoma Baptist to a 4–2 win over Arkansas Tech Thursday at Bison Softball Park.
Arkansas Tech (26-23) struck early, plating two in the first inning behind RBI singles from Sharlee Jackson and Caroline Wilhelm. But Oklahoma Baptist (30-15) responded quickly and never looked back.
The Bison got on the board in the second when
Abby Laskowski singled, and a couple sequences later, scored on a sacrifice fly by
Kaylee Davis. Then, in the third, Wells delivered the game-changing swing — a towering three-run bomb to right that scored
Hailey Stanford and
Morgan Max, giving OBU a 4–2 lead they would hold the rest of the way.
For Wells, it was her GAC-leading 13th homer of the year.
Jaycee Shaffer (17-3) earned the win with 4.1 solid innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three. Max came on in relief and was lights out, striking out four in 2.2 perfect innings to notch her seventh save.
Hacker led the Bison at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort, including a double. Wells finished 1-for-3 with the decisive home run and three RBI.
Arkansas Tech's Alexis Findley (11-11) took the loss, surrendering four runs (three earned) over six frames. Kacie Gibbins went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored, while Sadie Turner added a hit and a run.
The win extended Oklahoma Baptist's home record to 11-2 and gave them a key boost heading into the final stretch of the regular season. They'll be back in action on Friday versus ATU with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
Also of note, it was head coach
Jace Brewer's 30th win this season, the most by a first-year coach in OBU softball history. Previously, Bobby Cox attained 29 during the 2009 campaign.
