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Box Score 2 OKLAHOMA CITY (March 7, 2014) – If it seemed like no one could get Oklahoma Christian's Kala Ratliff out the past two days, that was because that was exactly what was happening.
Ratliff extended her streak of consecutive plate appearances with hits to a remarkable 11 straight and Taylor Mosher and Krystal Rodriguez delivered complete-game outings in the circle as the Lady Eagles swept Southwestern Oklahoma State 10-2 and 11-3 in a doubleheader on Friday at Tom Heath Field.
OC (11-8) won both games via the run rule, with the first lasting six innings and the second going five after the Lady Eagles built an early 11-0 lead against Southwestern (5-13).
Ratliff, coming off a 5-for-5 performance on Thursday in the second game of a doubleheader against Emporia State (Kan.), went 4-for-4 in the first game against Southwestern and had hits in her first two at-bats in the second game against the Bulldogs before reaching base on an error in the third inning.
While batting leadoff during OC's four games this week, Ratliff went 12-for-14 with two walks, eight RBIs, 10 runs scored, four stolen bases, two doubles and a home run.
"I've never seen her hit as hard and as often as she is right now," OC coach Tom Heath said of Ratliff. "She is on a streak that I hope never ends. They're not just little hits. She is hitting the ball extremely hard and she's seeing the ball well. She's hitting in the leadoff position, which she hasn't done, ever, and … she has responded in a great way."
Mosher (3-4) allowed eight hits and two runs while recording her third complete game of the season. Rodriguez (1-0) made her first start of 2014 and allowed the Bulldogs five hits in five innings. It was only her fifth career start and fourth complete game.
The performances by Rodriguez and Mosher allowed the Lady Eagles to rest their freshmen pitchers, Shea Coats and Haley Squier.
"We needed a couple of complete games," Heath said. "We needed to rest some arms. (Mosher and Rodriguez) both did an outstanding job. I was really happy for both Taylor and Krystal. Krystal hasn't had too many innings this year and she came through and stepped it up and did a great job for us."
In the first game, Courtney Starr's RBI single keyed a two-run first inning off Southwestern starter Jordan Haney (1-1). Kendra Pierce had a sacrifice fly during a two-run third and added a two-run single to center field in the fourth, as the Lady Eagles added four more runs. Martha Thomas tripled and scored in the fifth.
OC sealed the win in the sixth when Sarah Endres reached on an error and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Lauren Chatigny.
The Lady Eagles opened the second game in impressive fashion. Ratliff doubled leading off and Chatigny followed with a triple to center field. One out later, Thomas homered over the center field wall and Starr followed with another longball, over the left-field fence, to make it 4-0.
OC made it 8-0 in the second against Southwestern starter Julianne Martinez (4-5), with Niki Davidson, Endres and Ratliff hitting consecutive doubles. Pinch-hitter Jordan Chism contributed a two-run single during a three-run third inning for the Lady Eagles.
"One thing we needed was an early start – score first, score a bunch," Heath said. "We did that and got them in trouble and just kept scoring runs."