DURANT, Okla. – The Bulldogs went 1-1 to open the Southeastern Regional Invitational on Friday afternoon at the Multi-Sports Complex in Durant, Okla. SWOSU opened the day with a 17-6 run rule victory over Washburn before falling to No. 16 St. Mary's 7-2.
Game 1: SWOSU 17, WU 6Box Score The Bulldogs were able avenge an earlier loss in their first game of the tournament when the offense exploded against a Washburn team that had previously run ruled SWOSU at the SWOSU Round Robin last weekend.
SWOSU found themselves on the board quickly, plating six in the top of the first inning. The onslaught began with a
Tori Hawk-single up the middle that drove in
Ashley Dunigan and
Miranda McDonald.
Ashley Jones stepped up to the plate later in the inning with the bases loaded and bombed one over the fence to the left of center for her first career grand slam and the second one the Bulldogs have hit this season.
In the third inning, it was Jones again with the big bat. This time with runners on second and third Jones hit another ball out of the park, also out of left centerfield. The Bulldogs found themselves up 9-0 after two at-bats, but the Ichabods would plate one in the bottom of the second.
After being held silent in the third, the bats came back to life in the top of the fourth.
Adrienne Martinez got the inning started with a solo effort over the right centerfield fence.
Samantha Perry then hit a double down the left field line and drove in two more runs. Finally,
Rileigh Ricken stepped up to the plate with two runners on and she hit SWOSU's fourth homer of the game and the first of her career. Washburn would get five hits and plate three in the inning.
With the run rule looking likely, SWOSU put two more on the Ichabods in the fifth. First, Jones drove in
Kaitlyn Kromer for her game-high eighth RBI of the game on a single to right field. Ricken then plated
Katelyn White, who as pinch-running for Jones, with a single to shortstop. It took Ricken five batters in the bottom of the fifth to seal the run rule victory.
Jones put on an offensive showcase for the Bulldogs, going 3-4 at the plate with two runs and eight RBIs as SWOSU scored the most runs against a Division II opponent in program history. Ricken (2-1) started the game in the circle and went all five innings to earn her second win of the season.
Game 2: No. 16 St. Mary's 7, SWOSU 2Box Score The second game was not as kind for the Bulldogs as they took on a strong St. Mary's team ranked 16th in the Division II, falling 7-2 to the unbeaten Lady Rattlers.
This time it was St. Mary's that struck first, plating seven runs before the Bulldogs drove in their first run. Hawk drove in
Courtney Miller in the bottom of the sixth to put SWOSU on the board for the first time.
Kendall Smith sent a solo effort over the fence in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough as the Lady Rattlers finished the game up by five runs.
Kaity Rash had the most active bat of any Bulldog in the game, connecting on 2-3 at-bats.
Emily Garcia also put in a solid defensive effort, throwing out seven Lady Rattlers.
Molly Vivo (0-2) took the loss, while
Taylor Eaves and
Laura Wilson also saw time in the circle.
The Bulldogs will return to action Saturday for the second day of the Southeastern Invitational. First pitch against Newman is slated for 10:00 AM.
