Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 Goodwell, Okla.—The OPSU Softball team took a shutout victory Saturday over the second-ranked team in the Heartland Conference, Lubbock Christian University, who also sits twelfth on the national charts. After suffering two losses on Friday (2-9, 1-22), the Aggies defeated the Lady Chaps 6-0 in game three of the conference series.

Pitcher Samantha Arledge played a large part in the team's success allowing just two hits in Saturday's shut-out performance against the conference leaders in team batting average; LCU averaged .331 in hitting coming into their series with OPSU. While Arledge had a rough start in the circle in Friday's first matchup, giving up twelve hits for eight earned runs; she compensated at the plate by driving in the Aggies' only RBI for the game on a two-run homer in the fourth inning. In addition to the home run by Arledge, Julia Ibarra, Darcie Wilson and Faith Guzman each hit singles in game one.

The Chaps scored two runs in the third inning with the help of an infield error by OPSU and broke the 2-2 tie in the fifth with a two-run homer of their own; they totaled four runs in the fifth and three in the seventh as three more errors by the Aggies kept runners in play. LCU's Katera Eltsosie earned the game one victory in seven innings with four hits and two earned runs. Eltsosie had four strikeouts in the game while Arledge served up seven.

Up against some of the top hitters in the league, freshman Janna Ruether had her work cut out for her as she took to the rubber in game two; and a lead-off homer by Lubbock Christian was certainly not the start she had hoped for. The Chaps took one more run on an RBI single in the second to hold a manageable 2-0 lead. But after the Aggies went three-up and three-down in the bottom of the inning, the hits just kept on coming for Ruether as LCU sent 13 runs through in the top of the third. Two three-run homers coupled with two infield errors on OPSU added insult to injury as the Chaps jumped out to a 15-0 advantage. Criselda Luna stepped in for Ruether with two outs and empty bases; Luna gave up a single on her first batter but gained the third out on a pop-up to the next batter up.  

Three LCU runners scored in the top of the fourth inning thanks to two more errors by the Aggies. The Chaps returned the favor allowing one run to OPSU in the bottom of the inning on an infield error; Darci Wilson reached on an error by the shortstop and crossed home on a single by Sarah Gregori. The game was called after five innings as Lubbock Christian added four more runs in the top of the fifth and the Aggies were unable to score. The Chaps' winning pitcher from game one was a hero at the plate in game two; Eltsosie totaled six RBI on two three-run homers (both in the third inning). Katlyn Holmes notched the win in 3.2 innings with one hit and one run (unearned); Ruether took the loss for OPSU in 2.2 innings with 14 hits and 15 runs scored, of which seven were earned. The Chaps totaled 24 hits in the game and committed two fielding errors, and the Aggies combined for three hits and five errors.

Saturday brought better weather and a revived effort from the Aggies. Arledge got the start in the circle and totaled three strikeouts in her first three innings of work and gave up just one hit in her first 13 batters faced. With one out and bases loaded, Wilson took base on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third inning sending the first run through for the Aggies. Two more scored on consecutive errors by the Chaps and OPSU gained their first lead of the series 3-0 after three innings of play. Eltsosie stepped up with a double on one-out in the fourth, but OPSU's defense put out the next two batters leaving the runner stranded on base. Another LCU error put Gregori on base in the bottom of the inning and, with two outs, Ibarra knocked a home run over center field to pull the Aggies ahead 5-0. Gregori then homered in the sixth for the final run of the game. Arledge and the Aggie defense put out nine of nine Chaps batters in the last three innings with five foul-outs, two strikeouts, one ground-out and a pop-up.

For the series OPSU batters totaled 14 hits including one double and three home runs; their opponents gathered 38 hits with seven doubles and five homers. Arledge went two of five at the plate for five total bases and a .400 average; she totaled 13 strikeouts from the circle and held the Chaps to a .255 batting average over 14 innings pitched. The Aggies now hold a 17-24 overall record and are .500 in conference play with a 6-12 record against Heartland teams.

The ladies will step out of conference play for a mid-week matchup against Eastern New Mexico on Tuesday, April 12; the doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. OPSU Softball will resume inner-league competition on the road this weekend as they travel to Wichita, Kan. To take on Newman University April 15-16. Their final home series will take place April 22-23 against Oklahoma Christian with senior recognition on Saturday, April 23 before the Noon contest. Good luck and safe travels to our Aggie Softball team!