DENVER, Colo. - In one of the all-time best hitting-pitching combinations in Oklahoma Christian softball postseason history, the No. 22 and fifth-seeded Eagles handed two-time defending national champion and fourth-seed UT Tyler its first run-rule loss since 2024 with a 10-0 victory in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Division II South Central Regional Thursday afternoon.
The Eagles offense recorded 17 hits - its most postseason hits since 2022 - while true freshman
Ella Resendiz held the Patriots to just two hits - the fewest hits allowed in a postseason game since 2023. Thursday's shutout was also OC's first shutout victory in the postseason since 2023.
The freshman phenom in the circle delivered a performance a seasoned vet would be proud of, let alone in a postseason debut. Resendiz faced just 16 batters in her five innings of work - one more than the minimum - while throwing 47 pitches with an average of fewer than three pitches thrown per batter. Her two allowed hits were the fewest UTT has ever had in an NCAA Division II postseason game.
Offensively, eight of Oklahoma Christian's nine starters claimed a hit in the victory, with lead-off hitter
Maci George (3-for-3) reaching base safely four times after adding a walk.
Danae Lopez delivered a 3-for-4 showing with three RBI in her OC-postseason debut.
Kiley Brewster (3-for-4) was the third Eagle to tally a three-hit day while adding two RBI.
The day started with the maroon-and-gray leaving six base runners stranded through the first three innings. The offense finally broke through in the fourth with a five runs on six hits, with the Eagles facing three Patriot pitchers in the one frame. For the game, Oklahoma Christian forced five UTT pitchers.
The first four innings were three-up, three-down for Resendiz as she faced the minimum until the second-to-last batter of the game in what was Tyler's just second hit of the contest. Already leading 5-0, the Eagles added another five-spot in the fifth to end the game early after 15 outs, 10-0.
No. 22 Oklahoma Christian (40-14, 30-10 LSC) will now advance through the winner's bracket where it will meet the region's top-seed Colorado Christian from Assembly Athletic Complex Friday, May 15 at 12 p.m. CT. With a win over the Cougars, OC will then play Saturday, May 16 at 1 p.m. CT while a loss will have them play the winner of UT Tyler and St. Mary's Friday at 5 p.m. CT.
