Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Box Score Goodwell, Okla.—OPSU Softball added another notch to the win column Tuesday afternoon as they took a break from conference play to host a doubleheader with Eastern New Mexico University of the Lone Star Conference. A split series supplied ENMU with a win in game one (10-8) and the Aggies earned a run-rule victory (13-5) in game two.

The Greyhounds entered with an 11-35 overall record and improved to twelve wins after upsetting the Aggies 10-8 in game one. Samantha Arledge took the loss in the circle after coming off an impressive shutout victory (6-0) over one of the Heartland's top teams in Lubbock Christian University on Saturday. In Tuesday's matchup Arledge gave up 13 hits and ten earned runs, but sat down eleven batters on strikeouts in the seven-inning performance.

The Aggies edged an early lead in game one, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Faith Guzman and Julia Ibarra each hit RBI singles with two outs on the board. Arledge then walked the first three Greyhound batters faced in the top of the third, and a three-run double brought them all home giving ENMU a one-run advantage; Arledge struck out the following two batters. Gregori and Guzman stepped up again in the third and sent in a combined five RBI for the Aggies. With two out and bases loaded Gregori drove a three-run double down left-center and was followed up by Guzman who hit a homerun to left field for two RBI. OPSU held a 7-3 lead going into the fourth inning.

Five hits led to four runs scored for the opponents in the top of the fourth inning tying the game at seven all. ENMU sent three-up and three-down for the Aggies in innings four through six and took a two-run lead in the top of the sixth with two ground-out RBI. A single in the seventh brought through one last run for the visitors giving the Greyhounds a 10-7 lead. Jackie Sanchez and Darcie Wilson each took base on singles to lead off the bottom of the seventh and, with homerun hitter Madison Heathington at the plate, the hopes were high. Heathington came through with an RBI single to score Sanchez, but hopes were dashed as a sac-fly and two popups brought the last three outs of the game.

Freshman pitcher Criselda Luna got the start for OPSU in game two and held the Greyhounds hitless in the first inning. Guzman hit a lead-off single and would then advance on a wild pitch with Brooklyne Bolton at-bat. A single by Bolton brought up Wilson, who would not disappoint as she sent a homerun over centerfield for three RBI. As in game one, ENMU answered in the next half-inning scoring three runs of their own off an RBI double and an infield error that scored two. Guzman remained a consistent force at the plate, knocking an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the second; Heathington earned a second run that inning after being hit by a pitch with bases loaded. The score was 5-3 in favor of the home team after two innings of play.

The Greyhounds narrowed the gap with one run in the top of the third and evened the score at 5-5 in the fourth with the assistance of a lead-off double and one Aggie error. In the bottom of the fourth inning Guzman got on base with a walk and was joined by Bolton who hit a single with one out. Wilson then hit her second homerun of the game and her fifth of the season to break the tie and put the Aggies on top 8-5. The Aggie defense sent three in a row back to the dugout in the top of the fifth; little did the Greyhounds know, that would be their final inning at-bat. A pitching change by ENMU did not pan out as freshman Janna Ruether responded with a lead-off double. Jackie Sanchez supplied a sac-bunt to advance Ruether to third and, with one away, the next two Aggie batters were hit by errant pitches to load the bases. A strikeout brought out number two and Brooklyne Bolton up to bat. A single by Bolton scored Ruether and kept the bases full. Wilson and Heathington gathered two more runs with RBI singles, and after Bolton scored on a wild pitch, Luna stepped up with a walk-off double to take an eight-run win in five innings (13-5). Luna earned her seventh win of the season.

The Aggies totaled 25 hits on the day led by Guzman and Wilson who combined for nine; Guzman went six of four with four RBI and Wilson hit five of seven with seven RBI, each scored four runs over two games. Bolton, Heatington and Gregori also put up fine batting performances as Bolton went four of five and scored three runs, and Heathington and Gregori each brought in three RBI on a combined five hits. Each team totaled two errors and the Greyhounds took two stolen bases, the only steals of the series.

With the win the Aggies improve to an 18-25 season record and are one win away from tying the team's best finish since 2012 which had Coach Rachel Burleson at the helm. OPSU Softball's current Meghan Mulcahy has already surpassed her best season on record as a head coach. Congratulations to the Lady Aggies and keep it going girls!