CHICKASHA, Okla. – Oklahoma City University toppled Science & Arts 3-2 in eight innings before dropping the nightcap 4-3 also in eight innings Tuesday at Bill Smith Ballpark in a clash of teams ranked among the top 10 in NAIA softball.
Tiffany Paul pounded a fly ball into left-center field to provide the sixth-ranked Stars the winning run in the top of the eighth inning of the first game. Oklahoma City moved to 18-6, 5-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference, while No. 8 Science & Arts went to 19-7, 9-1 in the SAC.
Rally Radacy reached home plate on Paul's sacrifice fly to center fielder Macenzie Ruth.
In the fifth, Radacy broke the deadlock by bouncing a two-out base hit beyond second base to bring home Amy Crabaugh from second. Brooklyn Mason lofted an RBI double into left field near the foul line to put OCU ahead 2-0.
The Drovers evened the score 2-2 on Jaycee Kievit's run-scoring single to center in the sixth. Kievit hit a home run to left in the fifth.
OCU turned a double play on Malea McMurtrey's bunt to end the seventh and force extra innings.
Both pitchers went all eight innings with Shelbey Cornelson earning the victory. Cornelson, a senior exercise science major from Tuttle, Okla., struck out six and allowed four hits. Cornelson (10-2) logged 115 pitches.
Amy Crabaugh, a senior biomedical sciences major from Edmond, Okla., turned in a 1-for-3 performance and scored a run for the Stars. Radacy, a sophomore exercise science major from Lookeba, Okla., scored twice.
In the second game, Lexi Duff knocked in two runs on a single to right field to supply OCU a 3-1 advantage in the top of the eighth.
The Stars' Kamryn Garvie launched a fly ball beyond the right-field wall with one out in the fourth to even the score 1-1.
Carlee Mollet snagged a fly ball at the top of the wall to end the sixth and preserve the tie game.
In the bottom of the eighth, McMurtrey drove in two runs to tie the game at 3-3. Sierra Selfridge hit a grounder up the middle that Duff failed to handle with the bases loaded to give the Drovers the win.
Duff, a senior biomedical sciences major from Lone Grove, Okla., went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Duff took the loss, moving to 7-3 on the year.
The two teams collide once again in a 5 p.m. twin bill April 14 at Ann Lacy Stadium.
OCU faces Central Christian (Kan.) in a 5 p.m. doubleheader Friday at Ann Lacy Stadium.
