COMMERCE, Texas (May 22, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian's best softball season ever ended ever-so-painfully for the Eagles on Saturday morning at the NCAA Division II South Central Regional tournament.

Forced to play the fifth-seeded home team, No. 10-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce, for the second time in three days, the top-seeded, No. 4-ranked Eagles didn't convert on a pair of early bases-loaded opportunities and fell 2-0 to the Lions in the losers' bracket final – OC's first loss to TAMUC in four meetings this season.

With a final record of 38-9, OC posted the best winning percentage (.809) in program history and along the way, the Eagles earned the highest national ranking by any OC program during the university's Division II era, which began with the 2012-13 academic year.

The Eagles had entered the day hoping to win three games to qualify for next week's NCAA Division II Championship in Denver, but instead, it was TAMUC (32-17) that advanced to play second-seeded, No. 12 West Texas A&M in the regional championship round.

"When you have the bases loaded against good teams early, especially with no outs, you've got to cash in to put pressure on those teams and we didn't do that," OC coach Shanon Hays said. "But I was proud that our girls hung in there and kept giving us opportunities. Bailey Turner came in and threw very well and our defense was good. There's nothing to be ashamed about."

Saturday's game started Friday night, but was suspended after one inning due to persistent rain that has plagued Commerce all week and jumbled the tournament schedule. It was cloudy but dry on Saturday morning and the Eagles started fast in the second inning. Whitney Walde and Lindsey Stoeckel singled and Brianna Robinson drew a walk, loading the bases with no outs.

But TAMUC starter Emily Otto (15-6) retired Daelyn Denny on an infield popup and struck out Karrah Dean and pinch-hitter Aaliyah Brown to end the threat.

The Lions scored their runs, both unearned, in the bottom of the second. Stoeckel (4-1), OC's starting pitcher, bobbled a dribbler down the first-base line by Kinsie Hebler, who took second on a groundout. Chealsea Slider's single up the middle scored pinch-runner Da'Jia Davis and Slider later scored on a sacrifice fly by Uxua Modrego.

OC again loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning, on two walks and a hit batsman. Robinson, OC's top hitter, sent a long drive into the wind that appeared to be headed over the right-field wall, but Davis instead caught the ball one step before she hit the wall, ending the threat.

The Eagles didn't advance another runner past first base the rest of the way.

"In softball, timing is everything and the first two innings (Saturday) kind of defined the game for us," Hays said. "We had the bases loaded and hit the ball on the nose. One of the impressive things I've seen in this tournament has been Commerce's outfield. They've been phenomenal. They've saved tons of runs. We hit it hard but we just didn't have much to show for it. That was … the story of our tournament. We didn't really get our offensive machine going."

Stoeckel and Turner each pitched three innings and combined to limit the Lions to three hits while striking out five batters.

"I wanted to give us the best chance to win," Turner said. "I wanted to do my job and let our defense to do their job and throw the pitches that were called and have fun."

Turner, who transferred to OC after graduating in 2020 from Lone Star Conference rival Texas Woman's, said this season has "been amazing. This is the best team I've ever been on. The girls are amazing and the coaches are amazing. I have loved every minute."

The game was the final one for four OC seniors – Dunckel, Turner, Denny and Abbey Parks.

"It's been really awesome, being able to watch my sister (Katelyn Dunckel) kill it and just finish off with such a strong team and playing for (Hays) and (enjoying) all of the opportunities he's given me through my injuries and everything, seeing it out and believing in the talent that I have and worked hard for ," Brie Dunckel said. "We gave it all we got."

OC's postgame press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghNhieIVGsc