GOODWELL, Okla. – Oklahoma City University cruised to a pair of Sooner Athletic Conference victories over Panhandle State Monday afternoon, defeating the Aggies 11-2 and 12-0 at Aggie Field.
Jaci Smith, a senior from Godley, Texas, supplied the Stars with seven total RBIs and three hits. OCU, ranked No. 2 in NAIA softball, improved to 28-4 on the season and 10-2 in the SAC while Panhandle State dropped to 15-11 overall and 6-8 in conference play.
Baileigh Loux, a sophomore from Reno, Nev., had three total hits and added five runs, while Brittany Perez, a senior from Ventura, Calif., produced three total hits, three runs, two RBIs and two walks. The duo was two of six different Stars to finish Monday's doubleheader with at least three hits.
Oklahoma City got on the board first in game one when Shelby Riggs reached on a bunt single that Loux was able to score on to put the Stars ahead 1-0 in the top of the second inning. Riggs, a freshman from Binger, Okla., had a hit, two RBIs and a run in game one.
OPSU took the lead in the bottom of the second with two runs. Jewell Lee and Karah Ortiz both walked with the bases loaded.
OCU exploded for eight runs in the third, and added two more in the fourth highlighted by a three-run home run from Smith. Morgan McCallum singled home Perez, then Riggs was hit by the pitch with the bases juiced. Julianne Abeloe knocked a single down the right field line to drive in Loux and Gaby Zucchiatti and then Riggs scored on a successful double steal. In the fourth, Loux and Zucchiatti both crossed the plate when Abeloe reached on an error by the third baseman.
Kylie Dodson, a freshman from Mustang, Okla., snagged the win in relief pitching 3.1 shutout innings allowing four hits and striking out four to earn her 14th win of the season. Jaden Shores started throwing 1.2 innings allowing two runs on a hit, walking four and struck out two.
OCU blitzed the Aggies in the game two, scratching across two runs in the top of the first. McCallum had a two-run single driving in Kennedy Jackson and Smith.
In the third, the Stars added three more runs when Perez singled to score Smith, McCallum reached on an infield single knocking in Loux, then Abeloe got a hit back up the middle to drive in Perez.
Smith hit a sacrifice fly to score Riggs, followed by a Perez double to score Loux, Perez came home when McCallum knocked a double and came home when Abeloe singled to put the Stars up 9-0 after four innings.
Smith launched her second three-run home run of the day in the fifth to drive in Sha Ingram and Jackson, which gave Oklahoma City a 12-0 advantage.
Jaden Shores, a junior from Blanchard, Okla., allowed only five hits and no runs while tossing four strikeouts to earn her 14th win of the year.
OCU returns to action against Langston at 2 p.m. on Tuesday for a doubleheader in Langston, Okla.