OKLAHOMA CITY (April 6, 2019) – Oklahoma Christian coach Shanon Hays had been anticipating this weekend's series with Lubbock Christian (Texas), wanting to see how the Eagles would handle themselves playing against one of the Heartland Conference's top softball programs.

They acquitted themselves well, particularly in the pitching circle. Kali Crandall and Madison Hagood combined to limit one of NCAA Division II's most potent offenses to five hits and OC rode an early lead all the way en route to a 3-2 win on Saturday afternoon at Tom Heath Field, giving the Eagles the win in the three-game series.

Just over halfway through the 30-game Heartland slate, OC (28-7, 12-4 Heartland) is in first place, with Rogers State (27-12, 14-6) the Eagles' closest pursuer. Lubbock Christian (25-11, 12-8) and St. Mary's (Texas) (22-19, 12-8) are tied for third. OC has 10 games remaining against that trio – five against Rogers State, two against Lubbock Christian and three against St. Mary's.

Lubbock Christian – coached by Hays' brother, Daren Hays – entered the series fourth in Division II in scoring, averaging 8.1 runs per game, while OC came in with a team ERA of 1.84, ranking 12th in Division II. Pitching won the battle, as Crandall and Hagood limited the Chaparrals to seven runs in 23 innings over three games.

On Saturday, Crandall (9-2) started and pitched the first 3 1/3 innings for OC before giving way to Hagood. When Hagood ran into trouble in the fifth inning, Crandall re-entered and retired the final seven Lubbock Christian batters to seal the win. All told, the freshman right-hander from Artesia, N.M., allowed three hits and struck out seven batters in 5 2/3 innings.

OC jumped on Lubbock Christian starter Taylor Franco (10-7) in the first inning. Leadoff batter Hunter Strickland reached on an error and eventually scored on a single by Kaylie Upton, who went 3 for 3 and had the majority of the Eagles' five hits.

The Eagles made it 3-0 in the second inning. Lindsey Stoeckel drew a leadoff walk and stole second base and scored as Bailey Strecker reached base on an error while the Chaparrals tried to field her sacrifice bunt. One out later, reliever Amber Carlton hit Crandall with a pitch and pinch-hitter Sydney Smith singled to right field, scoring Strecker.

The Chaparrals scored once in both the fourth and fifth innings but left the bases loaded both times. In the fourth, K'leigh Arredondo hit a leadoff double and scored, but Hagood retired pinch-hitter Annika Schwartzenberg on a ground ball to end the threat. In the fifth, Savannah Wysocki singled to lead off and scored on a wild pitch by Hagood, but Crandall came on to retire Morgan Dufour on a two-out grounder.

OC will play a doubleheader at league rival St. Edward's (Texas) – which won a game at OC earlier this season – on Wednesday before returning home to host St. Mary's for a three-game series on Friday and Saturday.