OKLAHOMA CITY (March 14, 2021) – The doubleheader Sunday afternoon between No. 10 Oklahoma Christian and No. 18 Texas A&M-Kingsville had the feel of a postseason showdown, which makes sense as the two softball teams have a recent postseason history between them.

Evenly matched for all but one inning, the teams ended up with a split at Tom Heath Field. OC rallied in the late innings for a 3-2 win in the opener, with freshman Kylie Janzen driving in the winning run in the seventh. TAMUK used a seven-run sixth inning in the second game to down the Eagles 8-2 and earn the split.

OC (15-3, 7-1 Lone Star Conference) and TAMUK (12-1, 7-1) are two of seven LSC teams that have appeared in this season's NCAA Division II coaches' poll and both have stellar recent histories. In 2019, an unheralded OC squad – seeded eighth out of eight teams in a NCAA regional tournament – made a memorable run to the regional final played in Kingsville, Texas, and led TAMUK in the fifth inning before falling. The Javelinas eventually finished as the national runner-up that season.

The opener on Sunday – TAMUK's first game ever at OC – proved to be a pitchers' duel between OC ace Kali Crandall (10-1) and the Javelinas' Breanna Smith (0-1). TAMUK broke through first, scoring in the third inning when Loren Kelly singled to center field, stole second base, moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an error.

OC tied the game in the fifth. Brie Dunckel tripled down the right-field line with one out and scored on Brooklin Bain's ground ball, avoiding a tag attempt by TAMUK catcher Matisen Onofrei just before crossing the plate.

TAMUK went back ahead in the top of the sixth when pinch-hitter Jackie De Los Santos singled home pinch-runner Kytana Muniz. OC again tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Hannah Pate reached on an infield single with two outs, moved to second on another infield single by Lindsey Stoeckel and took advantage of two wild pitches by Smith.

In the seventh, Bain reached on a double when TAMUK right fielder Natalie Rodriguez misjudged Bain's fly ball, allowing it to drop. Katelyn Dunckel followed with a bunt single off reliever Saidi Castillo and Whitney Walde walked to load the bases. With one out, Janzen hit a ground ball to shortstop and Katelyn Dunckel beat the throw to home plate to score the winning run.

Crandall allowed four hits while striking out six.

Castillo (6-0) started the second game and went the distance, allowing six hits. Bailey Turner (3-2) started in the circle for OC and held a 2-1 lead heading into the sixth inning before disaster struck. Jory Cervantes reached on a bunt single leading off to the Javelinas and Turner's throw to try and retire Cervantes sailed past first base into foul territory, allowing the speedy Cervantes to circle the bases and score.

That opened the floodgates for TAMUK, and during the onslaught, Rodriguez and Makenzie Mays each delivered a two-run double.

OC will face nonconference foe Washburn (Kan.) at Southern Nazarene in Bethany on Wednesday before heading south for LSC doubleheaders at St. Edward's (Texas) on Friday and at St. Mary's (Texas) next Sunday.