CHICKASHA, Okla. - The Oklahoma Panhandle State softball team finished their previously postponed conference series against the #4 University of Science and Arts Drovers. 

The Aggies came into the third game of the series looking to reverse their fortunes from yesterday's two games. Being held hitless in both of the first two games of the series. While the Aggies would not be held hitless in game three the result remained the same with the Drovers securing the series victory with the game three win. 

The second game of the afternoon would see a different Aggie team hit the field. More than doubling their hits from the previous three games as they collected their first-ever win over the USAO Drovers. Seven of the nine Aggie starters recorded a hit in the series finale.

Game 1

The Aggie offense was nearly non-existent for the first two games against the USAO Drovers. Hoping to make up for lost time, the Aggies came into game three swinging early and reducing strikeouts. 

Freshman Rylin Baker (5-1) would make her first start of the year in place of Sarah Conely. Baker would throw all four and two-thirds innings for the Aggies and get her first loss of the season. She allowed six earned runs and struck out one in her fourteenth outing of the season.

The Aggie bats needed to heat up after being hitless in both previous games against the Drovers. Kayli Grove and Kailtyn Lord would notch the first two hits for the Aggies in the series in the top of the second inning. Nothing would come of the early baserunners for the Aggies. Senior Grove would have the only other hit of the game in the top of the fourth but would be stranded at second due to three consecutive strikeouts. 

The Drover bats simplified the game in a way the Aggies just could not due. Capitalizing on lax defense and multiple Aggie errors, the Drovers would run-rule the Aggies for the second straight game. 

Game 2

On the brink of being swept the Aggies would have a fire lit underneath them by Head Coach Marc Benjamin. The Aggie hitters would answer the call by getting out to an early lead and controlling the red-hot Drover offense.

Sophomore Kenley Yocom (6-4) earned her sixth win of the season in the series finale. Going all seven for the Aggies and striking out one over that span. Able to pitch around errors and baserunners to handcuff the number four team in the NAIA. 

After not having any run production in the first three games of the series, the Aggies were set to explode in the series finale. Doing so early against the Drovers. Brielee Daniell and Haley Saur would lead off the game with a walk and a single before Kayli Grover drove a double to left field. Giving the Aggies their first run of the series as Daniell would score. 

As the lineup turned over in the top of the second, the Aggies were ready to make up for their previous struggles. Caitley Adams would be the first base runner of the inning as she was hit by a pitch. Daniell and Saur would load the bases for Kinzie Jones to clear the bases with a double to give the Aggies a 4-0 lead. Grove would come up big for the Aggies once again with a single up the middle to extend the Aggie lead. First baseman Tatum Trester got in on the fun, launching a solo shot in the top of the third.  

The Aggies would take a 6-1 lead into the fourth before shortstop Jones hit a triple down the left-field line to extend the Aggie lead once again. The Drovers would answer with four quick runs in the last few innings off of Yocom. Yocom, however, was unwilling to give up the lead she had built up as she quickly sat down the last three Drovers in the inning. Kenzie Monroe would secure some insurance for the Aggies with a seventh-inning single to score Kaitlyn Lord.

The Drovers would threaten in the bottom half of the seventh with a double and a single, but Yocom would force weak contact to get a pop-up and ground out and secure the Aggie win. 

Panhandle State softball heads back to Jim Quimby Field to face another conference opponent in the Texas Wesleyan Rams. The series is scheduled to start Friday, April 1st with the first pitch set for 1 PM.