OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 11, 2022) – In an unusual twist, Tristyn Hamilton had a home run taken away from her, but the Oklahoma Christian sophomore still had plenty to celebrate on Friday at Tom Heath Field.

Hamilton led her softball team to victory in its home opener, going 2 for 2 with four RBIs and driving in the game-sealing runs as the Eagles run-ruled Fort Hays State (Kan.) 9-1 in six innings on the opening day of the Edmond Regional Festival.

The nine runs were a high for OC (5-1) during the young season and the Eagles also picked up solid pitching performances from starter Kali Crandall and freshman Grace Anderson, who combined to limit Fort Hays State (1-5) to two hits and one run.

Hamilton put the Eagles ahead 2-0 with a two-run, two-out single in the second inning off Fort Hays State pitcher Savanah Egger (0-3). OC tacked on another run in the third before a wild fourth inning.

With one out, Kelsey Gammage reached on an infield single and Hamilton launched a ball over the right-field wall for an apparent two-run homer. But umpires ruled that Gammage had left the base early, which meant she was out, and nullified Hamilton's homer because the ball was considered dead once Gammage was ruled out.

Hamilton, after returning to the plate, still reached base on a walk and eventually scored on a single up the middle by Rian Gamble, making it 4-1.

Anderson relieved Crandall (3-1) with one out in the fifth inning and retired both batters she faced for what ended up being her second save.

The Eagles closed the game out with a five-run sixth-inning outburst. Aaliyah Brown had a RBI single, Anderson launched a run-scoring double and Lindsey Stoeckel drove in another run with another single before Hamilton ended the game with a two-run single up the middle, scoring Gammage and Stoeckel.

OC will play in-state rival Rogers State at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, then will face Missouri Southern and Southern Nazarene on Sunday.