DENTON, Texas (Feb. 26, 2013) – Wet and snowy weather in February has made it difficult for Oklahoma Christian's softball team to get onto the field and develop consistency. It showed on Tuesday against NCAA Division II No. 14-ranked Texas Woman's.
Playing for the first time in a week, OC dropped a pair of six-inning run-rule decisions to the Pioneers, falling 15-7 and 9-1 at Pioneer Field.
Texas Woman's (15-5) has won five straight games, all against Heartland Conference teams. OC has dropped three in a row.
The best chance for OC (6-7) to pull off the upset came in the first game, when the Lady Eagles jumped to a 7-1 lead. OC looked to have the game in control after a four-run fourth, during which Courtney Starr and Kala Ratliff each delivered a two-run double.
But the Pioneers answered with nine runs in the bottom of the inning against OC pitchers Lindsy Moore (3-3) and Taylor Mosher. TWU's Kendra Sancet homered leading off, and later in the inning, Amanda Ruiz's single to left field scored two runs. A double by Katie Hines also brought home two runs for the Pioneers.
OC didn't answer in the top of the fifth before the Pioneers added four more runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 14-7. Texas Woman's completed the run-rule win in the sixth, when Ruiz doubled and eventually scored on an illegal pitch by OC's Krystal Rodriguez.
Ratliff finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs for the Lady Eagles. Hines (5-1) recorded the pitching win for Texas Woman's and went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
OC's bats fell silent in the second game against Texas Woman's starter Larisa Garcia (4-1). Garcia tossed a two-hitter, missing a shutout only because of Martha Thomas' solo home run in the sixth inning.
OC freshman Danielle Collins (0-2) allowed 11 hits and nine runs (six earned) in five-plus innings. Hines went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for Texas Woman's.
