Fort Worth, Texas – Freshman
Brittany Thomas had what was arguably her best day as an Oklahoma Panhandle State University player, leading her team to a Sooner Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep of Texas Wesleyan University. The Aggies (12-6, 3-3 SAC) topped the Lady Rams (3-15, 0-4 SAC) by scores of 5-3 and 11-3 at Sycamore Park.
Thomas, a designated player/pitcher from Mesquite, Texas (North Mesquite H.S.), was a combined 7-for-9 in the twinbill win on Friday. Thomas drove in six runs and had two doubles and one home run to her credit. She also scored twice.
In game one, Thomas – assuming the designated player slot - had a huge effort for the Aggies. Thomas went 3-for-4 from the plate, lacing a pair of doubles, and driving in three runs. Among Thomas' RBI was the game-winner in the top of the seventh.
TWU held a 1-0 lead after three full innings. In the top of the fourth, the OPSU offense came to life as
Karah Ortiz and
Jaylinn Reyes each delivered singles. With one out,
Kayli Grove slapped an RBI double to left-center field that plated Ortiz, with Reyes moving up to third. Thomas then drove home Reyes with an RBI single that put Panhandle on top, 2-1.
The precarious one-run lead didn't last as the Lady Rams notched a pair of runs in their half of the fifth inning on a two-run homer to go on top, 3-2, with just two frames remaining. OPSU got even in the top of sixth thanks to a one-scoring single off the bat of Jewel Lee.
In the seventh,
Jena Konieczka led off with a single, was sacrificed to second and advanced to third when Grove reached on a Lady Rams' fielding error. With Thomas at the plate, Grove advanced to second on a passed ball to put two in scoring position. The pair of Aggies would not have to wait long to cross the plate, as Thomas smashed a double that drove both home to make it 5-3 in favor of the visitors.
OPSU starter
Lindsay Jacobs went 3.0 innings and was charged with one run. She walked three and struck out three.
Kaylor Battiest (2-2) came on in the fourth and finished the game to earn the victory, striking out three and walking none, while surrendering two runs.
In game two, Thomas picked up where she left off in the opener by knocking a two-run single in the top of the first inning to give the Aggies the early lead. However, when Thomas went to the circle as the pitcher for the second game, her result was not quite the same, as she did not record and out and was charged with two runs after Battiest came on in relief (moving Thomas' to the designated player slot for Battiest).
Panhandle State added a pair of runs in the top of the third inning, thanks to an RBI double from Grove and a run-scoring single from catcher
Haley Neal, and one more in the fourth on Konieczka's base hit that made it 5-2.
After the Lady Rams got one back, OPSU booked two more in the sixth. Lee led off the frame with a double down the leftfield line and trotted home on Ortiz's triple to right. Ortiz came home on the very next at-bat, as Konieczka lifter a sacrifice fly that made it 7-3.
The Panhandle State barrage continued in the seventh when Reyes pounded a three-run homer to center and Thomas followed with a solo round-tripper for the 11-3 final.
In game two, Thomas was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three more RBI. Reyes also had a solid game, with a 2-for-5 effort, scoring twice and driving in three.
Ortiz went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a ribbie. Lee, Grove and Neal each collected two hits. Lee had a pair of doubles in game two. Grove was 4-for-7 on the day, overall.
Battiest improved her personal record to 4-2 as the winning pitcher on both ends of the doubleheader. In game two, Battiest went 7.0 innings in relief, allowed three hits and just one run. She struck out five and walked four.
The teams will close out the four-game series on Saturday, with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
