Game one box
Game two box

ALVA, Okla. (April 29, 2008) – The Oklahoma Christian University softball team lost two extra-inning games by identical 6-5 counts on Tuesday afternoon at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

The defeats complete Oklahoma Christian's regular season at 30-23 and 12-14 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

The Lady Eagles will be the No. 6 seed in the SAC Tournament this weekend at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. OC will play the No. 3 seed Lubbock Christian (Texas) in the first round at 10 a.m. on Friday. OC went 2-3 against LCU this season.

The 30 wins are the most for the Lady Eagles since a 31-13 mark in 2003. OC got to the 30-win plateau by sweeping No. 11 Rogers State University (Okla.) at home on Monday.

In game one on Tuesday, OC came back from a 5-1 fifth-inning deficit with a four-run sixth before losing 6-5 in eight innings.

The nightcap saw NWOSU play catch up, as the Lady Rangers recovered from a 1-0 third-inning deficit to score an eventual 6-5 win in nine innings.

Game One:

The Lady Rangers led 2-0 after an inning of play thanks to a two-run Jeana Hancock home run to centerfield.

OC got on the board in the top of the third after Christin Dobbs led off with a bunt base hit. After moving to second on a sacrifice, then to third on a fielder's choice, the center fielder charged home on a double steal play and narrowly beat the throw to make it 2-1.

NWOSU moved the lead to 3-1 when Janette Galindo squeeze bunted Kati Jo Gabaldon across home in the fourth.

The Lady Rangers added on later in the inning on a two-out, RBI double from Natalie Vasquez. Two batters later, the edge swelled to 4-1 when Gabaldon singled up the middle.

The Lady Eagles responded though. An infield single from Sandra Darmstadt and double from Rachel Smith put runners at second and third with one out in the sixth. Then Casey Brady smoked a single to left to plate the pair and make it 5-3.

Allissa Hejl kept the wheel spinning with a double into left-center field to plate Brady, narrowing the gap to 5-4. Dobbs finally tied the score at 5-5 with a base hit up the middle to score Hejl.

A single and two walks loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh for NWOSU. But Sophia Johnson induced a come backer that ended the threat and set up the first extra-inning sequence of the day.

International tie breaker rules took over in the top of the eight, placing Brady at second base. But after Hejl walked to start the inning, the Lady Eagles went down in order.

In NWOSU's half, a bunt by Amber Cardona sent Brittany Allison from the second to third. Allison then scored when Brady's throw sailed into right field, ending the game at 6-5.

Smith paced the offense with a 3-for-4 game one at the plate. Dobbs had OC's only other multi-hit effort at 2-for-5.

Johnson fell to 4-8 with the loss, despite going 2 1/3 innings and only allowing one unearned run. Linzi Farris, the game-one starter, lasted 4 2/3 innings and struck out two.

Game Two:

Game two was scoreless until Dobbs came home on a third-inning sacrifice fly from Deidre Chatigny to give OC a 1-0 edge.

The score held until Hancock launched her second long ball of the day to right center, scoring two, and putting NWOSU up 2-1. Galindo then singled in Gabaldon to make it 3-1.

OC clawed back in the sixth with a Brady double to left center that plated Smith and made it 3-2. Courtney Gunderson then dribbled a single up the middle to bring Brady in from second to lock things at 3-3.

The score remained the same through seven innings, sending the action to a second-straight extra-inning finish.

Smith went to second on the international rule to start the eighth before moving to third on a Brady sacrifice bunt. Hejl then grounded out to the second baseman, sending Smith home to give the Lady Eagles a 4-3 lead.

In NWOSU's half, Galindo singled to right with runners at first and second to again lock the game at 4-4. But the Lady Eagles, and a relieving Johnson, battled out of a bases loaded jam with a fielder's choice grounder to shortstop to send the game to a ninth frame.

The ninth began with a Dobbs sacrifice that moved Tiffany Sherman to third. Two batters later, Washam singled through the left side to put OC up 5-4.

But the run would be OC's last of the game.

The Lady Rangers got runners to second and third with no outs, then Jackie Kopacek won the game with a triple over the left fielder's head to plate both players and make it 6-5.

Dobbs (2-for-4) and Darmstadt (2-for-4) had two hits in the loss.

Caitlin Matthies started the game and went the first six innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on four hits. Johnson (4-9) again suffered the loss out of the bullpen.

-OC-