OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Panhandle State softball heads to Oklahoma City to compete in the Hosea Bell Red Dirt Classic hosted by the Langston University Lions. A four-game tournament for the Aggies as they look to play Oklahoma Wesleyan, Kansas Wesleyan, McPherson, and Huston Tillotson. 

In the first game of the day and the tournament, the Aggies took the field against the OKWU Eagles. An early pitching duel between the two teams however the Eagles were able to find some clutch hits in the fifth inning to take the lead. The Aggie bats would not be able to follow the performance of their starting pitcher and would fall in the end. 

After the loss to the Eagles, the Aggies decided one loss on the day was enough. The Aggie bats sprung to life in game two against the Coyotes. Notching twelve hits and nine runs in their six-inning run rule over Kansas Wesleyan. A stunning performance from the Aggie pitching staff nearly shutting out the Coyotes. Allowing only a single run and two hits. 

Game 1

The Aggies come into their last pre-season tournament before heading into conference play next weekend. Looking to start on a high note against Oklahoma Wesleyan. A relatively quiet game for both team's bats as hits were few and far between for both teams. With the Eagles scoring first the Aggies would find themselves in the hole early and once again as the Eagles would put two more runs on the board in the fifth. 

Sarah Conley (2-2) makes her seventh start of the year against the Eagles. Looking to perform better than she did last year against the Eagles. Throwing a complete game in this go-around for the Aggies. Allowing seven hits, and three earned runs with six strikeouts. Conley kept the Aggies in the game hoping for the Aggie bats to pull through. 

The Aggie bats would stay quiet for the majority of the contest. Finishing with only five hits in the game. The offense struggled with leaving runners on base (8) and striking out (8). While they showed patience in the box with five walks the bats just could not start heating up when they were needed the most. Looking to make a late game push the Aggies would come within one of the Eagles off a Kinzie Jones SAC fly. Too little too late for the Aggies as they fall 3-2 to the Eagles.  

Of the five hits for the Aggies, second basemen Haley Saur would lead with two hits. Brielee Daniell, Kaitlyn Lord, and Tatum Trester would all have a single hit in the contest. Despite the uncharacteristic start to the tournament the Aggies look to rebound against the Coyotes later on in the day. 

Game 2

Unwilling to go drop both games on the day the Aggie bats turned it around against the Coyotes. Scoring in four of the six innings played. The Aggies stunned the Coyotes with their offensive performance and pitching performance. Panhandle State would score four in the bottom of the first to take a lead they would never relinquish. 

Sophomore Kenley Yocom (3-1) would also make her seventh start of the season. Before Yocom would be removed she would complete four innings of work allowing only a single run on two Coyote Hits. 

Freshman Rylin Baker would come in to relieve Yocom in the fifth inning and finish out the game for the Aggies. Throwing two innings without allowing a single Coyote base runner. 

The Panhandle State offense returned to form early against the Coyotes. A three-run home run off the bat of catcher Kaitlyn Lord would swing the momentum in the Aggies' favor. Lord would not be satisfied however as she would bring around another Aggie run in the bottom of the second to give the Aggies a five to nothing lead. Doing so one more time in the bottom of the sixth, giving the Aggies the chance to run rule the Coyotes. 

A confidence boost of a game after a disappointing opening game for the Aggies.  Three Aggies would have multi-hit games against the Coyotes. Kinzie Jones (2), Kaitlyn Lord (3), and Phylzan "Yaya" Jones (3). Lord would have season-high five RBIs in the game and be directly responsible for seven of the Aggies' nine runs. 

Panhandle State softball returns to action tomorrow Saturday, March 5th at 11:30 AM against McPherson College Bulldogs.