LUBBOCK, Texas (March 5, 2021) – Playing at Lubbock Christian (Texas) long has been a nightmare for Oklahoma Christian softball teams, as the Eagles entered this season with an all-time record of 2-17 against the Chaparrals on their home field.

Recent results show that the tide might be turning in the series. Riding dominant pitching performances by Kali Crandall and Bailey Turner, No. 11-ranked OC recorded its first-ever sweep at No. 25 Lubbock Christian, winning 3-1 and 4-0 on Friday night in the opening games of the Lone Star Conference schedule for both teams.

Dating to April 2019, OC (10-2, 2-0 LSC) now has won seven straight games against Lubbock Christian (10-5, 0-2) after never having won more than two in a row in the series – and once having lost 19 out of 20 games to the Chaparrals.

Lubbock Christian – coached by Daren Hays, the brother of OC coach Shanon Hays – hadn't been swept in a home doubleheader since Angelo State (Texas) did so on March 13, 2017.

In the opener on Friday, Crandall (6-1) outdueled Lubbock Christian's ace, Taylor Franco (6-2). Franco allowed only three hits in seven innings but walked seven, three of those in the pivotal sixth inning when OC scored two of its three runs. Crandall struck out five batters and allowed six hits.

Both teams scored in the first inning. Brie Dunckel walked and scored on Whitney Walde's groundout, while Savannah Wysocki led off with a triple down the left-field line and scored on a sacrifice fly by Skylar Herrera.

The Chaparrals left a pair of runners on base in both the second and sixth innings, while OC did the same in the third. The Eagles finally broke through in the sixth when Tara Stewart's single up the middle scored Hannah Pate (who had walked) and pinch-runner Hampton Hays.

In the sixth, when Lubbock Christian threatened, Crandall struck out Angela Donaldson and Addi Lewis to end the threat.

Turner (2-1) twirled a four-hit shutout and struck out five batters in the second game, allowing only two baserunners to advance as far as third base.

OC broke through against Lubbock Christian pitcher Dakota Stotyn (3-1) in the fourth inning, when Katelyn Dunckel singled to left field and scored on a two-run home run over the centerfield wall by freshman Kylie Janzen.

The Eagles added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth, the first when Walde (who had singled and stolen second base) scored on a single to right field by Janzen.

OC will visit No. 23 Angelo State for a doubleheader on Sunday before returning home for a conference doubleheader against Texas A&M International on March 12.