Oklahoma City – Sophie Williams tossed a two-hitter while taking advantage of an early lead as the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) claimed their second consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference Softball Championship by defeating top-seeded Oklahoma City University 3-1 Sunday evening. The game was moved to Yukon High School at the west edge of the metropolitan area due to wet field conditions at Love’s Field on the OCU campus.
The No. 2 seed and sixth-ranked team in the nation broke out to an early lead in the top of the first as Malea McMurtrey reached second base on an error and a batter later, scored on a double by Sierra Selfridge to make the score 1-0.
McMurtrey gave the Drovers a 2-0 lead as she singled to start the third inning and moved to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a Jadyn Goucher single down the left-field line to extend the lead. Science & Arts added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a bases-loaded fielding error to extend the lead to 3-0.
The No. 2 team in the country made things interesting in the home half of the seventh as Baileigh Loux with hit by a pitch with one out and after a foul out, scored on a Tara Hoehner single that was misplayed in the outfield to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Stars would leave Hoehner at second as Williams tossed a strike out to end the contest and claim the championship.
( https://www.citynewsokc.com/community/as-regular-season-champions-oklahoma-city-university-enters-sac-tournament-as-top-seed/article_5dfbbefc-08b0-11ef-9f70-8be28f84c851.html )
Loux and Hoehner had the only two hits for the Stars in the contest while Loux scored the only run in the loss. Shelbey Cornelson tossed 6.1 innings in the defeat while striking out nine Drover batters. as The Stars will enter the NAIA National Tournament with an overall record of 51-3.
McMurtrey was 2-for-4 at the plate for the Drovers while scoring two runs while Selfridge and Goucher each had runs batted in during the game. Williams tossed a complete game for Science & Arts with 11 strikeouts and one walk in the contest as the Drovers improved to 44-7 on the season as they will also advance to the National Tournament.
Both Oklahoma City and Science & Arts will host first and second rounds of the NAIA Tournament that will begin on May 13.
Both teams will see who will be traveling to their sites on Tuesday afternoon as the NAIA Selection Show will take place at 4 p.m.
The Lady Drovers fought their way to the title with victories over Panhandle State, Texas Wesleyan, Mid-America Christian, wrapping up with the the title win over Oklahoma City.
( https://www.citynewsokc.com/sports/back-to-future-oklahoma-city-stars-will-face-usao-drovers-in-sac-title-game/article_fc10fed2-0b02-11ef-aafc-df438a370721.html )
The Lady Stars earned their way to the title game win their victories over Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Wayland Baptist and Southwestern Christian University.
( https://www.citynewsokc.com/education/oklahoma-city-stars-lead-off-miaa-championships-with-12-0-run-rule-victory/article_3e7c0d96-0a33-11ef-b741-87d8983895ff.html )
Notes: This story is adapted from the Sooner Athletic Conference website story posted after Sunday evening's game. Pat McGuigan contributed narrative and links to stories about prior tournament performance for USAO and OCU.
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