Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 Goodwell, Okla.—The Oklahoma Panhandle State University Softball team completed their season at home this weekend with a three-game series against the fourth-ranked team in the Heartland Conference, Oklahoma Christian University. The Aggies split the series 1-2 and sent the seniors out with the team's best record since 2004.

With an overall record of 20-31 and seven wins within the Heartland Conference, OPSU Softball has seen its best season since the 2004 team went 21-39 under Coach Steve Kissel. The Aggies' current head coach Meghan Mulcahy has improved the program each year since taking over in 2012 when they finished the 2013 season 7-44.

In Friday's doubleheader the Aggies took a five-inning shutout loss (9-0) to the Lady Eagles in game one, but came back strong in game two with a 3-2 victory in seven innings. On Saturday, under gusty wind conditions, the Eagles soared off with an 11-0 win to secure a spot in the Heartland Conference Tournament which will take place this weekend.

Criselda Luna started off for the Aggies in game one and took the loss in 3.0 innings of work; Luna allowed six hits and six runs (four earned) during her time in the circle. Julia Ibarra replaced Luna in the fourth and went two innings with four hits and three runs (two earned). The Aggies totaled two hits in the game, both singles from Faith Guzman and Daisy Recinos. OC scored three runs each in the second, third and fourth innings and held the Aggies scoreless through five to take the 9-0 win.

In game two, senior Samantha Arledge led off for OPSU and pitched a complete game giving up seven hits and two runs (one earned); Arledge totaled seven strikeouts in the game including the final two with bases loaded in the top of the seventh to lock down the one-run victory for the Aggies. The first three innings saw only three hits, combined, for zero runs on either side; OC brought in their first run in the top of the fourth with a would-be lead-off homer that scored off an infield error. The Aggies answered in the bottom of the fifth an RBI sac-fly that tied the game at 1-1. The Lady Eagles then responded with another run off an error in the sixth to gain a 2-1 lead. Arledge led off the bottom of the inning with a single and, pinch runner Janna Ruether evened the score after advancing to second on a wild pitch and crossing home on an error by OC. With no outs and a runner on second, Luna then stepped up with an RBI single to pull the Aggies back up with a one run advantage (3-2). Arledge held off the Eagles in the seventh throwing the final two strikeouts with bases loaded securing her ninth win of the season.

Three seniors were recognized prior to game three on Saturday and Arledge, as one, took the circle for the last time as an Aggie; Ashley Jarzombek and Michalea MacGillivray were the other two seniors taking the field for the final time. Arledge threw all six innings on Saturday and tossed five strikeouts in the stint. The Lady Eagles took 14 hits for 11 runs (ten earned) in the game and allowed seven hits and zero runs to the Aggies. Brooklyne Bolton went two of three at the plate and Guzman, Arledge, Darcie Wilson, Madison Heathington and Sarah Gregori each hit singles as well.

As a team the Aggies totaled 379 hits on the season led by Wilson and Heathington who combined for 105 with 52 and 53 hits respectively. Heathington currently sits third in the Heartland Conference for home runs with 14 and is ranked fourth in RBI with a total of 48 on the year. Arledge ranks fourth in the conference for batters struck out with 121. As a team OPSU finished fifth in the league for overall batting average at .287 and ranked sixth in win/loss percentage, falling just short of the conference tournament.