SWOSU Swept In Opener At Ouachita Baptist

Momentum was on the side of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University softball team heading into their conference series against Ouachita Baptist, but the Lady Bulldogs could not sustain as they dropped two games to the Tigers by scores of 6-1 and 7-6.

The first game saw SWOSU out-hit Ouachita Baptist 13-5, but the Bulldogs stranded 11 runners on base and managed to push just one run across to score. The SWOSU run came on an RBI double from Summer Blackowl in the top of the fourth inning.

OBU jumped on top of SWOSU early, scoring four runs on two hits and taking advantage of one Bulldog error in the bottom of the first inning to take control of the game. They would add one run in both the third and fourth innings to provide the final margin.

Julianne Martinez pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and six runs although just two were earned, but was saddled with the loss and moves to 10-12 on the year.

Audra Chambless led the offense in the first game with a 4-for-4 effort from the plate.

A five-run third inning and a 6-0 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth inning appeared to put the Bulldogs on the verge of a split, but that was before OBU responded with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to get upend SWOSU.

SWOSU took advantage of two OBU errors in the third and got five hits, including an RBI single from Megan Watson, to score five runs and take the early lead. An RBI single from Caitlyn Deason scored Megan Ayala in the sixth inning, putting the Bulldogs on top 6-0 before the Tigers clawed back.

OBU pounded out seven hits in the bottom of the sixth inning, facing three different SWOSU pitchers, and capitalized on a throwing error by the Bulldogs to take the lead 7-6. After a leadoff single from Kendal Smith in the seventh, the Bulldogs were set down in order and sent to their second defeat of the day.

Ayala started and tossed 5.2 innings for SWOSU, allowing seven hits and six runs. Jessica Goulet relieved her in the sixth and faced three batters without recording an out and took the loss (0-5) after allowing the go-ahead run.

SWOSU and Ouachita Baptist will meet again on Friday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader in Arkadelphia.