Chickasha, OK. — The Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies opened the Sooner Athletic Conference Softball Tournament with a decisive 7-3 victory over Texas Wesleyan University on Friday afternoon, marking their first tournament win. The win was followed by a narrow 1-0 loss to the nationally-ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in the second round. With the SAC tournament's double-elimination format, the Aggies will return to the field tomorrow with their season still alive.
In Game 1 against Texas Wesleyan, the Aggie offense exploded for 13 hits and put runs on the board in five different innings. Trinity Higgins got things going early by stealing home in the first inning, setting the tone for an aggressive approach on the bases. Higgins stole a total of six bases during the game against Texas Wesleyan. Haeley Vasquez launched a solo home run in the second to extend the lead, while Kaylynn Du Preez and Summer Marron each added RBIs in a three-run frame that gave the Aggies a 4-0 cushion.
Panhandle tacked on additional insurance runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings, including a run-scoring double from Du Preez and an RBI single from Erin Hornback. Gracie Lankford led the team with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, scoring twice, while Du Preez and Vasquez each had two hits and an RBI.
Marin Jacobs was dominant in the circle, earning her 22nd win of the season by tossing a complete game. She allowed just four hits and three runs—only one of which was earned—while striking out two.
The second game of the day saw a pitchers' duel unfold between OPSU's Jacobs and USAO's Sydney Williams. Despite another solid effort in the circle from Jacobs, who gave up just three hits and one unearned run over six innings, the Aggies couldn't break through offensively. They were held to just four hits and were shut out.
USAO scored the game's lone run in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly. OPSU's best chance to score came in the sixth when Marin Jacobs doubled, but the Aggies couldn't bring her home.
Despite the loss, Head Coach Jim Walker and his squad remain in contention and will compete in a must-win game tomorrow.
Upcoming
The Aggies will look to bounce back with the same firepower they brought in the opener against Wayland Baptist University on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 3:00 pm.
