GOODWELL, OK. — On Saturday afternoon at Jim Quimby Field, the Oklahoma Panhandle State softball team dropped both games of a Sooner Athletic Conference doubleheader to visiting Mid-America Christian University. Despite flashes of offensive spark in game one, the Evangels proved too much for the Aggies, taking the opener 13-4 and completing the sweep with a 14-0 shutout in game two.
Game One: Mid-America Christian 13, Panhandle State 4 (5 innings)
Mid-America Christian came out firing in game one, putting up multiple runs in the first four innings. The Aggies struggled to contain the Evangels' aggressive approach at the plate, as MACU tallied 16 hits—including six extra-base hits—and took advantage of three OPSU errors.
The Evangels jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first and continued to build from there, highlighted by a four-run third and fourth innings. The Aggies responded in the bottom of the fourth, plating three runs on hits from Halle Zupan, Kaylynn Du Preez, and Trinity Higgins to cut the deficit to 11-4. Haeley Vasquez also added an RBI single in the third.
Marin Jacobs was tagged with the loss in the circle, surrendering 13 runs—11 earned—on 16 hits. Offensively, Du Preez led the way with a 2-for-2 outing that included an RBI double, while Higgins also tallied two hits and an RBI.
Game Two: Mid-America Christian 14, Panhandle State 0 (5 innings)
MACU picked up right where it left off in the second game, putting up nine runs across the first two innings. The Aggies were held to just five hits and could not generate sustained offensive momentum against Evangel starter Bailey Wyatt, who earned the complete-game shutout.
Senior Rylin Baker took the loss. Defensively, OPSU committed three errors that contributed to seven unearned runs.
Trinity Higgins was a bright spot for the Aggies, going 1-for-3 with a stolen base in each game. Marin Jacobs and Gracie Lankford each added a hit in game two.
Upcoming
Panhandle State will look to bounce back with another home doubleheader on Sunday, March 23, against Mid-America Christian University. The first pitch is scheduled for noon at Jim Quimby Field.