OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 5, 2019) – Oklahoma Christian wasn't at its best on Tuesday, but when the Lady Eagles absolutely had to buckle down and come through, they did.
Kaylie Upton's bases-loaded sacrifice fly capped a three-run bottom-of-the-seventh rally for OC as the Lady Eagles edged East Central 8-7 in their 2019 home opener, which turned into a three-hour marathon on a cold, foggy night at Tom Heath Field.
Bridget White went 3 for 3 with three RBIs for OC, which is 5-0 for the first time since 2015.
Kayla Eichler came off the bench to go 2 for 3, score twice and drive in a run and freshman
Sierra Schultz drove home two runs. OC did use its outs well, scoring four runs on sacrifice flies.
"It's nice to not be at your best and go ahead and get a win," new OC softball coach
Shanon Hays said after his home debut. "If you can have a good year, those (wins) help you at the end (of the season)."
OC scored twice in the first inning and led until East Central (0-1) took a 7-5 lead with three runs in the top of the seventh. The Tigers put their first five batters on base in the inning against OC reliever
Lindsey Stoeckel (1-0), with four singles and a hit-by-pitch. ECU seemed to have the momentum, needing only three outs to post what would have been its second win at OC in as many seasons.
But Stoeckel began the bottom of the seventh with a single to center field and took second base on a passed ball.
Daelyn Denny followed with an infield single and Stoeckel scored on a groundout by Schultz, pulling OC within 7-6.
Eichler delivered a looping single to left field that brought home Denny to tie the game, and when left fielder Bridget Gleason misplayed it, Eichler advanced to second base. Freshman pinch-hitter
Sydney Smith hit a hard ball back to ECU pitcher Demi Danell (0-1), who stopped the ball but couldn't locate it to throw to first. Eichler went to third on the infield single.
Brie Dunckel walked to load the bases before Upton – named earlier Tuesday as the Heartland Conference's hitter of the week – hit a fly ball to deep center field that allowed Eichler to score easily.
OC won despite allowing 12 hits, including five to the bottom two batters in the ECU lineup, Bridget Gleason and Mariah Ewy. On the positive side, OC pitchers
Madison Hagood,
Kali Crandall and Stoeckel combined to strike out seven batters and walk only two.
"What was really neat was
Kayla Eichler had two big hits, including one to tie the game in a key situation," Hays said. "It was neat to see her come back and have some good at-bats. We had some production from one through nine – everybody did something well – and hopefully we'll pitch it better."
OC will return to action at noon Sunday, hosting Washburn (Kan.) – which topped the preseason poll in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – as part of the Edmond Regional Festival I. On Monday, the Lady Eagles will host a pair of Lone Star Conference foes, Texas Woman's and No. 14-ranked Tarleton State (Texas), to wrap up the Festival.
Shanon Hays discusses the game:
https://youtu.be/HjhWj1j_kEA
Game highlights:
https://youtu.be/9Tja0WeWEHc
