SHAWNEE, Okla. — A big swing from
Haley Hacker and a complete-game effort in the circle from
Jaycee Shaffer propelled Oklahoma Baptist to an 8–3 win over Northwest Missouri State on Saturday morning at the Fields at Station.
The victory keeps the Bison unbeaten to start the season, improving OBU to 3–0.
Oklahoma Baptist struck first in the second inning, stringing together four hits and capitalizing on early traffic.
Ally Ryan and
Nichelle Marshall opened the frame with singles, and after
Abby Laskowski moved the runners along, Hacker delivered a three-run homer to left-center to give OBU a 3–0 lead.
Northwest Missouri State answered with two runs in the third, but the Bison responded immediately. In the fourth,
Ivy Walker — pinch running for Laskowski — stole second before Hacker singled to put runners on the corners.
Kiley Long followed with an RBI fielder's choice, and an ensuing error allowed another run to score, stretching the lead to 5–2.
OBU continued to apply pressure in the fifth. After Marshall reached and
Payton Bragg entered as a pinch runner, Long drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and
Katelyn Kilgore doubled to right-center to plate another, making it 7–2.
Greenlee Wells added the final Bison run in the sixth, doubling to right field to score
Alexah Reyes, who had reached on a walk and stolen second.
In the circle, Shaffer was steady throughout, going the full seven innings. She allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out five and working out of multiple jams.
Hacker led the way offensively, finishing 3-for-3 with three runs scored, three RBI, and a home run, while Wells went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Kilgore also drove in a run and recorded a double, and Long chipped in two RBI.
Oklahoma Baptist finished with 10 hits and scored in five different innings, continuing a strong start on both sides of the ball.
