TAHLEQUAH -- The bats were hot early and often for No. 24 (NFCA) Oklahoma Baptist (12-2) as the Bison powered past Northeastern State 12-7 on Thursday afternoon in Tahlequah.
OBU improved to 12-2 overall behind a relentless attack that produced 13 hits, including four home runs, three which were delivered by
Greenlee Wells. She's the first player in OBU's D2 history (2016-pres.) to record three homers in the same game. Plus, she's only the third Bison ever to record that many bombs in a single contest.
After the RiverHawks (7-4) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Wells answered immediately with a solo homer to even the score.
The game turned in the bottom of the second when the Bison erupted for seven runs on seven hits.
Ally Ryan sparked the inning with a solo shot before Wells delivered the decisive blow — a towering grand slam to cap a four-RBI frame and give OBU a 7-2 advantage.
Haley Hacker added an RBI single later in the inning as the Bison sent 12 batters to the plate.
NSU fought back in the third with a three-run homer from Ansleigh Morris to trim the deficit to 8-5, but OBU responded again. In the fourth, Hacker ripped a bases-clearing double to extend the lead to 11-5. Wells struck once more in the fifth, blasting her third home run of the game to finish with six RBI.
In the circle,
Jaycee Kelln (3-1) earned the win, tossing 5.1 innings while striking out six. After allowing six runs — only four earned — she settled in to keep the RiverHawks from getting closer.
Aubrey Williams closed out the final 1.2 innings.
With the chunk of their non-conference games complete, the Bison will move into Great American Conference competition next weekend against Arkansas-Monticello.
