Softball | 3/20/2019 12:23:00 PM
Goodwell, Okla. – Oklahoma Panhandle State University softball team will have a very ambitious weekend coming up, with the team slated for six games in a four-day span and all at the Aggie Softball Field. The Aggies (12-8, 3-5 SAC) are scheduled to face Langston University for back-to-back doubleheaders on Friday (March 22/2 p.m.) and Saturday (March 23/12 p.m.), along with a Monday (March 25/2 p.m.) twin bill versus NAIA No. 2-ranked Oklahoma City University.
Links for all the games can be found via: opsuaggies.com. First pitch on Friday is slated for 2 p.m. and 12 p.m. Saturday versus Langston, and a 2 p.m. start versus Oklahoma City on Monday.
GAME NOTES:
*SCOUTING THE LIONS: Langston University (8-11, 3-5 SAC) currently sits tied for fifth – along with OPSU and Texas Wesleyan – in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings. LU has won five of its last eight outings, including a doubleheader split at Jarvis Christian (w. 9-1; l. 13-2).
*SCOUTING THE STARS: Oklahoma City (22-4, 4-2 SAC) sits in third place in the SAC, currently, behind NAIA No. 1-ranked USAO and SAGU in the 1-2 slots. The Stars had a seven-game win streak snapped last Saturday in a DH loss at USAO. OKCU will have doubleheaders at Central Christian (Wed., March 20) and at home versus Bacone (Fri., March 22) on tap before coming to Goodwell on Monday.
*AGGIES AT-A-GLANCE: OPSU heads into the busy weekend with a record of 12-8 overall and 3-5 in the SAC (tied for fifth place). Panhandle State had won five of its last six games before last Saturday's doubleheader setback at Texas Wesleyan.
*LAST TIME OUT FOR THE AGGIES: Last weekend, OSPU split a four-game series versus Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth. On Friday, 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, 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 twin bill win on Friday. Thomas drove in six runs and had two doubles and one home run to her credit. She also scored twice.
Kaylor Battiest was the winning pitcher in both of Friday's games (she ended up with 10 strikeouts in the series).
In dropping both games of its doubleheader on Saturday, Oklahoma Panhandle State University scored early, but it was Texas Wesleyan University that scored most often, sweeping OPSU by scores of 6-2 and 8-4. Despite the Saturday setbacks, Panhandle State freshman Thomas made TWU's home field – Sycamore Park – her personal playground in the four-game series. Over the weekend, Thomas was a combined 10-for-16, a lofty .625 average from the plate. Thomas drove in nine runs, thanks to two doubles and two home runs. She had a .647 on-base average and a 1.125 slugging percentage in the series. She scored two runs and drew one walk, as well.
*THOMAS BAGS SAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: After the torrid weekend with the bat, Oklahoma Panhandle State University freshman softball standout
Brittany Thomas was named as the Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week, for the period ending March 17
*STRONG WITH THE LEATHER: OPSU's
Abby Gregory and Kayor Battiest are listed among the NAIA players nation-wide who have both met the statistical minimum and have yet to make a fielding error in 2019.
*CROWN JEWELL: Sophomore
Jewell Lee can be found prominently in the SAC softball statistics. Lee is among the leaders for: Batting Average (#19/.380); Runs Scored per Game (#10/0.95); Total Runs Scored (t.#11/19); Hits per Game (#7/1.35); Total Hits (#10/27); Doubles per Game (#7/0.30); Total Doubles (t.#7/6); Triples per Game (#9/0.10); Total Triples (t.#6/2); Total Bases per Game (#11/1.85); Total Bases (#9/37); At-Bats per Game (#1/3.55); Total At-Bats (t.#9/71).
*TRIPLES THREAT: The Aggies, as a team, have run their way to 10 triples. OPSU ranks #16 in the NAIA for Total Triples.
*AGGIES' TEAM IN THE SAC STATS: The #3 spot seems to be where OPSU finds itself in many SAC statistical categories, including: Batting Average (.325); Runs per Game (6.35); Hits per Game (8.75); RBI per Game (5.55); Doubles per Game (1.60); Total Home Runs (9) and Opponent Batting Average (.278). The Aggies are also No. 1 in Total Triples (10), No. 4 in Slugging Percentage (.472) and No. 4 in Total Strikeouts (99).
*CENTURY MARK FOR MEGHAN: OPSU Head Coach
Meghan Mulcahy recorded her 100th career coaching victory in the first game of that Feb. 21 date versus Southwestern Christian (won by the Aggies, 2-1, in eight innings).
*QUICK START: The Aggies 4-0 start to 2019 matched the best beginning to a season in Coach Mulcahy's six years at the OPSU helm. The team also accomplished that feat in 2017.
*BETTER THAN AVERAGE WITH THE BATS: The Aggies have no less than four players –
Jena Konieczka (.393),
Jaylinn Reyes (.386),
Jewell Lee (.380) and
Karah Ortiz (.370) – all batting .370 or better in 2019.
*LONG BALL: Abby Gregory has slammed four home runs, thus far, in 2019. She goes yard an average once every five games.
*"K" LEADER: Kaylor Battiest has 55 strikeouts to 33 walks, a ratio of 1.7-to-1 from the circle. Battiest also has three saves to her credit.
