GOODWELL, Okla. — The Oklahoma Panhandle State softball team (5-27, 3-15 SAC) remained competitive but struggled to make key outs and, conversely, get key hits in Friday's series-opening doubleheader versus No. 9 Science & Arts (27-7, 16-2), falling by finals of 8-1 and 8-3.
 
Game 1: OPSU found itself out of position defensively at times, and the Drovers made the hosts pay by plating three runs in both the second and fifth innings.
 
Starting pitcher Jordan Johnson was solid in a complete-game effort, tossing scoreless frames on three occasions to keep the Aggies within striking distance.
 
Panhandle State's lineup was largely shut down by USAO's ace, Aubree Ferguson, but it did muster a run in the sixth frame thanks to consecutive sharp singles off the bats of Jules Leach and Summer Marron, followed by an RBI groundout from Haeley Vasquez.
 
Marron collected a pair of hits in the opener, while Cassidy Stanhope drew two walks and stole a base.
 
Game 2: A leadoff triple for the visitors propelled them to a 2-0 lead, but Marin Jacobs settled in by putting up zeroes the next two frames.
 
OPSU got on the board in the bottom of the third on an error to make it 2-1, though the inning could have spelled trouble for the Drovers had they not snuffed out a double-steal attempt after Aaliyah Dang-Gutierrez and Leach reached to begin the inning.
 
The score remained 2-1, USAO, until the top of the fifth when the Drovers struck for four runs, with a trio of those runs occurring after the second out.
 
Panhandle State got one back in the bottom of the frame with two base hits and an error, though the Drovers went back ahead in the seventh, 8-2, with a two-out, two-run single.
 
Down to their last chance, the Aggies scored once following Leach's third base hit of the day and a pair of wild pitches, but it wasn't enough.
 
What's up next: OPSU wraps up the series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 noon.