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WICHITA, Kan. (March 6-7, 2009) – The Oklahoma Christian University softball team won five games at the Friends University (Kan.) Tournament over the weekend. The victories run the Lady Eagles' 2009 record to 10-5.
Oklahoma Christian will play against a loaded field at the Gulf Coast Classic in Orange Beach, Ala., this weekend. Before heading south, the Lady Eagles host Concordia University (Neb.) on Tuesday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
The Lady Eagles got the Friends tournament started in grand style thanks to sophomore pitcher Leigh Leonard's five-inning no-hitter over Avila University (Mo.). OC didn't score until the fifth inning when they exploded for nine runs. The Lady Eagles recorded seven hits in the inning, including a two-run homer from Leonard. The Benton, Ky., native finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs while improving to 2-2 in the circle.
OC then run ruled Graceland University (Iowa) 12-3. The Lady Eagles scored in every inning but the first and they capitalized the victory with four runs in the sixth. Tiffany Sherman, Ashley Noles, Deidre Chatigny and Christin Dobbs each drove in runs in the inning to put the game away. Dobbs went 3-for-5 with two RBIs in the win, Sherman went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run. Caitlin Matthies (3-1) struck out eight to notch the win.
Friday's final game saw the Lady Eagles beat No. 10 Columbia College (Mo.) 5-2. OC scored four runs in the first inning and never trailed in the game. Sherman provided the big blow with a three-RBI double and Casey Brady also had an RBI knock. Sophia McKean (2-0) got the win by allowing two runs (one earned) in five innings pitched. Leonard got her first save after pitching the final two frames.
OC opened Saturday with a 6-2 victory over Culver-Stockton University (Mo.) The Lady Eagles scored four times in the third on RBI hits from Amber Canady, Brady, Amy Urbanovsky (double) and Kayla Jennings. Linzi Farris (2-2) picked up the victory with five strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work, and Sherman went 3-for-4 in the triumph.
The Lady Eagles completed the tournament by beating No. 24 Central Methodist University (Mo.) 6-3 on Saturday afternoon. OC trailed 3-1 heading into the sixth inning, but the Lady Eagles scored five unanswered runs in the final two frames for the win. Brittany Rice drove in two with a double to tie the game at 3-3. Then two batters late, Canady ripped a RBI single for the go-ahead run. Leonard (3-2) won the final game with a five-inning, five-strikeout effort. McKean came on in relief to pick up her third save of the season.
-OC-
