Darkness Ends Drover Rally

CHICKASHA – After a furious three-run rally, the University of Science and Arts’ softball team had to be satisfied with a 5-5 tie in game two of Tuesday’s season-opening doubleheader against East Central. ECU took game one 8-2 on the strength of a five-run fifth inning.

Game two had turned in favor of the Drovers, though, as sophomore pitcher Chancie Godwin pitched 4 1/3 innings of near perfect softball. After ECU racked up five runs on five hits through two innings, Godwin took the mound for the first time this season and retired 13-of-14 batters striking out five. A fielding error in the sixth inning was the only ECU base runner during Godwin’s outing.

Down three runs, Leslie Beaty’s single drove in Kelsey MacInnes in the fourth inning. Beaty later scored on a wild pitch to pull USAO to within one run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Amy Tice singled home senior Jennifer Bridgforth for the tying run. With darkness setting in, USAO had runners at second and third with one out but could not score the winning run.

The Drovers had to settle for the 5-5 tie and a 0-1-1 record to start the season. The conference season starts Tuesday as the Drovers host No. 1 Oklahoma City beginning at 2 p.m.

###