Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Goodwell, Okla.—The Oklahoma Panhandle State University softball team put up two wins in front of a home crowd Wednesday afternoon in their first home series of the season. In a double-header against New Mexico Highlands, the Aggies came out with an 8-6 victory in game one and defeated the Cowgirls 5-4 in game two.

Highlands scored the first two runs of the day off an outfield error in the opening inning, but the Aggies answered big time by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first to take an early five-run lead. Ashley Jarzombek led off at the plate and was sent to first after being hit by a pitch; the senior shortstop would take a total of three pitches to the body before the day was over. Brooklyne Bolton sent Jarzombek home on an RBI single after Anyssa Barbosa advanced the runner to second on a sac-bunt. With bases loaded, Sarah Gregori pushed in a run as she reached base on an error. Julia Ibarra then stepped up with a single scoring another run for the Aggies and, batting through the order, Jarzombek was back up and, this time, totaled three RBI as she took first on a centerfield error.

The Aggies held a 7-2 lead through three innings until the Cowgirls sent in three runs in the top of the fourth to bridge the gap to a two-run deficit; a double to right field drove in the first two runners and an infield error allowed the third runner to cross home. OPSU left one runner on base in the fourth inning and neither team scored in the fifth; the Aggies' starting pitcher Samantha Arledge sat down three Highlands batters in a row, throwing a ground-out and two strikeouts in the top of the inning. The Cowgirls snuck through one more run in the sixth off a single, a double and an RBI single up the middle. The Aggies also brought through one runner as Jarzombek took her second HBP of the day to lead off the bottom of inning six; she scored the final run of the game as Darcie Wilson hit a single and was advanced to second on an error.

Arledge earned her third win of the season after tossing three out in a row in the top of the seventh; she finished the game with ten hits and three earned runs and threw a total of eight strikeouts against 36 batters faced. The senior pitcher allowed just one base on balls in her seven innings in the circle. The Aggies totaled eight hits in game one and were led by Madison Heathington and Ibarra who each got two hits; Jarzombek led the team in RBI with three.

Game two saw Ibarra take the circle for OPSU and go the full seven innings to earn her fourth victory for the Aggies. Ibarra gave up five hits and two earned runs in the game, throwing four strikeouts in 32 batters faced. The Aggies totaled eight hits again in game two, four of which added five runs to the board in the second inning. Gregori led off and reached on an error by the shortstop; she crossed home plate on a single by Barbosa, after two Aggies reached base being hit by pitches (Villarreal and Jarzombek). A sac-fly by Bolton scored Danielle Villarreal and Wilson hit the Aggies' second double of the day bringing Jarzombek in. Heathington then added two RBI on a single to right-center to give the Aggies a 5-0 lead after two innings of play. NMH scored on run in the fourth and three in the fifth, the remaining innings went run-less for both teams.

Barbosa and Wilson each got two hits in game two, knocking out one double apiece; they both scored one run and one RBI in the game. Heathington led the Aggies with two RBI and went one for three as the designated player. The Cowgirls totaled six hit batters and eight errors on the day; OPSU committed six errors and hit two batters with pitches. The Aggies grounded into three double-plays and turned zero on their opponents. With an overall record of 10-12, the Aggies have gotten off to their best start since head coach Meghan Mulcahy took over the program.

Aggie Softball will enjoy the weekend off before embarking on a long road trip to Laredo, Texas to take on A&M-International March 11-12. The team will make stops in Austin and Bethany, Okla. as they head back for a Heartland Conference series at home March 18-19 against St. Edward's University.