Moore, Okla. – Oklahoma Panhandle State University softball clinched its season series versus Mid-America Christian University, thanks to its doubleheader split on the road. The Aggies (23-17, 14-14 SAC) lost the opener to the Evangels (22-12, 15-10 SAC), 8-0, and bounced back to take the night cap, 4-3, giving Panhandle State three-wins in the four meetings in 2019.
 
In game one, the Aggies' bats were frustrated to the tune of just two hits versus MACU pitcher Regan Martin. Nine OPSU batters struck out and Martin did not walk a batter, as no Aggie reached scoring position.
 
Panhandle State's first hit of the game was a two-out single from Abby Gregory in the top of the third. After that, Haley Neal also slapped a single down the right-field line in the fifth, also with two out. Other than that, the only other OPSU baserunner was Gregory in the sixth, after reaching on an error by Martin.
 
Kaylor Battiest (12-10) pitched the entire game for the Aggies, her 13th complete game of the year. Only three of the eight runs yielded by Battiest were earned, as Panhandle State committed three errors. The Evangels also took advantage of five walks by Battiest.
 
In game two, Panhandle never trailed in the game, although it was tied twice. OPSU plated on run each in the first and second inning courtesy of Evangel errors. In the bottom of the second, MACU got to Aggies' starting pitcher Lindsay Jacobs (10-5) for a pair of runs to tie matters at 2-2.
 
In the Panhandle State half of the third, Karah Ortiz and Kayli Grove opened with back-to-back singles and then were moved up on Jaylin Reyes' ground out. Jena Konieczka then walked to load the bases. After a force out at home made it two down, Jacobs came to the plate with a chance to help her own cause, and did so by walking to force home Grove.
 
However, MACU added a run in its half of the third to knot the game at 3-3. That score stood until the top of the sixth when Grove drew a bases loaded walk to bring in what would prove to be the deciding run. But the Evangels were not going quietly.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Jacobs retired the first to MACU batters she faced. But a single and double by the next two Evangels got the potential winning run in scoring position and OPSU Head Coach Meghan Mulcahy summoned Battiest to put out the fire. Battiest – facing her game one nemesis Smith, who was pinch hitting for MACU – got the strikeout to end the frame.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Battiest issued a walk and, after a sacrifice bunt, a single by MACU's Amber O'Bryant. Jessica Holt stopped at third base, but Holt was gunned down trying to go to second. Battiest induced a ground out from Hannah Harris to preserve the win and earn here NAIA nation-leading ninth save of the season.
 
With the bat, Jacobs was 2-for-3 with an RBI, as well as drawing the key walk. Jewell Lee went 2-for-5 and scored a run.