OKLAHOMA CITY (March 22, 2019) – The offense wasn't firing as usual for Oklahoma Christian on Friday against St. Edward's (Texas), but the Eagles came up with just enough clutch hits to complement their solid pitching.
Madison Hagood tossed a complete-game four-hitter for OC and
Kaylie Upton had two big hits in a 5-2 win in the opener at Tom Heath Field, and Upton pitched 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief and delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Eagles won the second game 4-3.
OC (23-5, 7-2 Heartland Conference) maintained its lead in the league softball standings and extended its winning streak to nine games, the team's longest since an 11-game run in 2017.
OC jumped on St. Edward's starter Julisa Ortega (2-3) in the first inning of the opener for three runs on four hits. Upton hit an RBI triple and scored on a single by
Bridget White, who later scored herself.
St. Edward's (7-14, 4-9) scratched out a run on a walk and two infield singles in the first inning, but managed only one other run against Hagood (11-2), that in the top of the fifth. That pulled the Hilltoppers within 4-2, but
Hunter Strickland – the reigning Heartland hitter of the week – singled and scored an insurance run for OC on a sacrifice fly by White in the bottom of the inning.
In the second game, OC put together a three-run second inning.
Bailey Strecker hit a one-out bloop double to right field and
Payton Sabolski walked with two outs. Coach
Shanon Hays, playing a hunch, sent in freshman
Sydney Smith to pinch-hit for Strickland and Smith stroked a two-run double into the left-center field gap off St. Edward's starter Reagan Carter (1-6).
OC starter
Kali Crandall didn't allow an earned run in the second game in her 4 2/3 innings, but ran into trouble in the fifth inning after a two-out error opened the door for the Hilltoppers to score twice. Upton (4-1) moved into the circle and after giving up a game-tying single to Kylie Mica, she retired seven straight St. Edward's batters to end the game.
With one out in the seventh, St. Edward's shortstop Kathryn Connelly booted a grounder from
Brie Dunckel. The speedy Dunckel stole second base and took third on a wild pitch before scoring the game-winning run on an infield single by Upton.
The teams will finish their three-game series on Saturday 1 p.m.