Softball Team Sweeps Northwestern

ALVA – Avenging an earlier loss in the Pittsburg State, Kan., tournament, the USAO softball team swept a conference doubleheader Thursday against Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Drovers won the first game 3-0 and followed with a 5-2 win at Alva Recreational Complex.

With the sweep, No. 9 USAO improves its record to 42-14 overall and 16-4 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Drovers finish the regular season with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday at St. Gregory’s and a 5 p.m. twin bill Tuesday against Oklahoma City at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.

In the first game Thursday, USAO scored a run in the top of the third and two in the fourth for the 3-0 victory. Northwestern scattered four hits, as junior pitcher Dana Askins shut down the Lady Rangers.

Askins provided the Drovers’ run in the third with a single to score freshman Tanna Truelove, who singled to open the inning. Junior Stephanie Hey belted a two-run home run, her second of the season, in the fourth inning to senior Crystal Judkins, who singled to open the frame and advanced to second on a passed ball.

Askins (1-for-2), Judkins (1-for-3), Hey (1-for-3), and Truelove (1-for-3) had hits for USAO. Hey’s home run was the Drovers’ only extra-base hit. Askins (22-6) struck out 10 batters and allowed four hits in her 23^rd complete game and 12^th shutout.

USAO opened up a little more offense in the nightcap, scoring two runs in the first and three in the third on 10 hits for a 5-2 victory. Northwestern scored its two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Sophomore Morgan Skelley drove in the Drovers’ first run on a single to score Askins, who singled and stole second base in the previous at-bat. Hey followed with a single to score Skelley. In the third inning, Skelley hit a three-run home run, her fifth of the season, to score Askins and Truelove.