Oklahoma City, Okla. – While there may not be any points for "moral victories," the Oklahoma Panhandle State University softball team can find solace in the fact that it took the NAIA's No. 2-ranked team – Oklahoma City University – down to the wire on its home field in a doubleheader loss. The Aggies (17-15, 8-12 SAC) fell to the Stars (34-4, 16-2 SAC) by scores of 7-6 and 5-3.
 
Panhandle State held OKCU well below its scoring average of 11.6 runs per game and attacked the stars' staff for more than its 1.42 runs allowed per game average. Friday's games were also a 180-degree difference from Oklahoma City's sweep of OPSU back on March 25 by scores of 11-2 and 12-0.
 
In its last three games versus the NAIA's No. 1 (USAO) and No. 2 teams during the past week, the Aggies lost the trio of contests by a combined four runs.
 
In game one, freshman Brittany Thomas took the circle for the Aggies. Host OKCU led 1-0 after two innings and held a 6-2 cushion after the fourth. But while the Stars would score just one more time the final three innings, Panhandle tallied in each of the final five frames.
 
In the top of the fifth, Kayle Grove and Brissa Rivera each had RBI singles to draw OPSU to within 6-4. However, the Stars got a run back in their half of the fifth to lead 7-4 heading into the final two innings.
 
In the sixth, Chrislyn Dovers hit a groundout to short, plating pinch-runner Lindsey Harris. Jaylinn Reyes led off the top of the seventh with her second home run of the season to tighten the score to 7-6, with no out. Jena Konieczka followed with a single to put the potential tying run on base. However, the Aggies were unable to add any more in the narrow loss.
 
Rivera was 2-for-3 with a run batted in game one. Grove was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
 
Thomas tossed the complete game, settling down the latter half of the contest. Thomas was victimized by allowing three home runs: one each in the second, third and fourth innings. The trio of longballs accounted for four of the Stars' runs.
 
Game two looked like it may be a runaway, as the Stars struck OPSU starter Kaylor Battiest for four runs in the bottom of the first. But Battiest would right the ship the last five innings, scattering five hits snd allowing just one more run.
 
In the top of the third, Reyes and Grove had back-to-back RBI singles to make it 4-2. Oklahoma City got a run back in the bottom of the third, 5-2. OPSU booked an unearned run in the fourth to again trail by two.
 
In the top of the seventh, OPSU made one final run to reach the Stars. Singles by Reyes and Rivera sandwiched an OKCU throwing error to load the bases. But an infield pop-up once again denied the Aggies of a potential victory.
 
Reyes was 3-for-4 with a run batted in. Grove was 2-for-4 with an RBI in the second game, as well. As a team, Panhandle State matched OKCU with eight hits in the game.
 
The Aggies will continue their weekend road swing on Saturday (1 p.m.) with a pair of games at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, Okla.