Kala Ratliff went 3-for-6 in the doubleheader, but OC dropped a pair of games to Lubbock Christian (Texas).
OKLAHOMA CITY (April 7, 2012) – No. 5-ranked Lubbock Christian (Texas) pounded out 24 hits – 11 for extra bases – and swept a doubleheader from Oklahoma Christian on Saturday, winning 8-2 and 8-3.
Lubbock Christian (35-4, 10-2 Sooner Athletic Conference) entered the doubleheader leading NAIA softball in batting average, slugging percentage, hits per game and total doubles and the Lady Chaparrals kept the bats going strong in both games against OC (26-14, 7-11), which has lost five straight games.
The Chaps' first five hits in the opener off OC starter Ashley Paxton (9-8) went for extra bases. Andrea Argee led the way for Lubbock, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, four runs scored and two RBIs. Latainna Eltsosie went 3-for-4 with three RBIs for Lubbock Christian.
The Lady Eagles left 12 runners on base in the game. Lubbock Christian starter Sarah Mendez (12-1) was wild, walking seven batters to go with her eight strikeouts, but OC left the bases full against her in the third, fourth and fifth innings. During that time, Lubbock Christian built its lead from 2-0 to 6-0.
The Chaps eventually led 8-0 before OC scored its only runs in the bottom of the seventh, on a sacrifice fly by Kendra Pierce and a RBI single by Kala Ratliff.
Eltsosie did much of the damage in the second game for the Chaps, going 2-for-3 with five RBIs, a pair of home runs and three runs scored. Her three-run shot off OC starter Lindsy Moore (10-2) staked Lubbock Christian to an early lead and the Chaps scored twice more in the third to make it 5-0.
OC answered in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs on four hits and two errors by Lubbock Christian pitcher Amanda Longorio. Michelle Miller lined into a bases-loaded double play to prematurely end the rally, leaving OC down 5-3.
But Lubbock Christian responded with a three-run fourth inning, keyed by a two-run homer by Eltsosie. Taylor Mosier relieved Moore and held the Chaps scoreless the rest of the way on just one hit, but OC couldn't advance a runner past second base during the final four innings against Longorio (10-2).
Pierce finished the doubleheader 4-for-6 for OC while Ratliff went 3-for-6. They combined for more than half of the Lady Eagles' 13 hits in the two games.
OC will host SAC rival USAO on Thursday afternoon.
