Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (March 5, 2016) – Oklahoma Christian's young pitching staff is growing up and the Lady Eagles' offense is finding a way to produce runs, which is a good combination for OC.

Freshmen pitchers Kaylie Upton and Madison Hagood combined to limit Texas A&M International to six hits and Bridget White and Haley Squier delivered run-scoring singles as OC held on for a 3-2 win over the Dustdevils on Saturday afternoon at Tom Heath Field.

The win completed the second straight Heartland Conference series sweep for OC (11-11, 6-0 Heartland) and has the Lady Eagles tied with perennial power St. Mary's (Texas) atop the league standings. The Lady Eagles have won seven of their last eight games after a 4-10 start to the softball season.

"Any time we can beat teams ahead of us or tied with us, that just puts us better off at the end (of the season), when it's conference-tournament time," OC coach Tom Heath said. "It was a big weekend for us. Our kids are finally coming around. They did a great job down at Permian Basin (last weekend). They played Pittsburg State tough (on Tuesday). We're playing good ball right now."

Upton (3-2), a freshman right-hander, rarely worked without runners on base, but was solid in stranding TAMIU's baserunners once they reached. Hagood entered with two on and one out in the fifth and wriggled out of the jam, as TAMIU (12-15, 3-3) left the bases loaded.

The Dustdevils also loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Hagood retired Anna Parnin on a ground ball to first base to end the game. Hagood, a freshman left-hander, had a hand in each of OC's four wins on the week, with three wins (including both on Friday against TAMIU) and the save on Saturday.

"Kaylie did a really good job pitching," Heath said. "It might not have been her best day, but she did it when she had to. She came through with the pitches she needed and our defense came through and got her out of our jams.

"Coach (Steve) Gault has done a great job working with (Hagood). Coming in as a freshman, we had to work on some things and got some things changed. She is a very tough competitor and we're very proud of her."

TAMIU stranded 12 baserunners, while OC left nine on base. But the Lady Eagles were able to scratch out one more run on offense.

TAMIU's Chelsea Capello walked and scored on a single by Parnin in the second inning. OC answered in the bottom of the second, as Niki Davidson and Squier singled to start the inning against TAMIU starter Krystal de la Cruz (8-5). A wild pitch moved the runners up and Davidson scored on a groundout by Finch. White's single to right brought home Squier to make it 2-1.

Brenda Parnin drew a leadoff walk in the third for TAMIU and eventually scored on a single by Brandi Giles. Again, OC responded in the bottom of the inning, as Jordan Chism drew a leadoff walk and scored on a single up the middle by Squier.

"Haley can hit the ball," Heath said. "She came through last year for us. She finds a way. She finds a way to put the ball in play. It could be a shot in the gap or it may be a ball hit up the middle. Whatever it takes, Haley puts the bat on the ball."

The Lady Eagles will visit Texas A&M-Commerce for a nonconference doubleheader on Tuesday before hosting Newman (Kan.) next Friday and Saturday in another Heartland series.

Coach Tom Heath on the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeNtSKkSRIk&feature=youtu.be