MAGNOLIA, Ark.— Oklahoma Baptist (40-13, 26-7 GAC) finished the regular season on a 4-3 loss to Southern Arkansas (43-7, 26-6), which prevented being swept after a walk-off base hit in the eighth.

With the result, the Bison secured the third seed of the GAC Tournament which will start on May 7 in Bentonville. OBU will next play Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Following a scoreless first inning, the Bison ignited a rally at the top of the second, starting with an infield tap by Haley Hacker. She later advanced to second base on a throwing error, setting up two consecutive walks for Kaylee Davis and Alexah Reyes to load the bases.

Kaley Cook and Katelyn Kilgore capitalized shortly after with back-to-back centerfield RBI singles, providing the Bison an early two-run advantage. Senior Greenlee Wells added another run on a bases-loaded walk, putting the Bison up 3-0 over the Muleriders. The inning concluded on a failed home steal attempt stopped when OBU still had bases juiced.  

SAU attempted a quick response at the bottom of the second with a left field double from Peyton Raley. However, the threat would be subdued quickly after a hit by Payton Owens resulted in a home-plate tagout for the final out of the frame.

Both teams continued to struggle bringing in runners until a late game surge by Southern Arkansas broke the trend.

The bottom of the fifth allowed for a single by Sophia Luetticke with no outs. Luetticke advanced to scoring position on a stolen base, followed up by a centerfield swing from America Rubio. Another stolen base by pinch runner Kelsie Adams put two players in scoring position— both brought in by a two-RBI single to the left.

At the bottom of the sixth, the hosts sprinted in the tying run on a wild pitch and carried the momentum into extra innings.

The game ended on a right-field, two-out RBI single by Luetticke.

During the regular season, OBU won two of three against the Savage Storm in Shawnee on March 27-28.