WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The bats went quiet late for the Bulldogs as they dropped their first two games of the SWOSU Round Robin, falling first to the University of Science and Arts 3-2 before dropping a seventh-inning decision 5-2 to Newman.
USAO 3, SWOSU 2Box Score The Lady Drovers struck first in the top of the second. With a USAO runner in scoring position on second, Sevie Carel stepped up to the plate. Her hit to right field resulted in a fielding error, and Tate Landmark reached home for the unearned run.
SWOSU would even up the score in the bottom of the fourth. With
Courtney Miller and
Tori Hawk in scoring position,
Samantha Perry was in the box for the Bulldogs. Though she struck out swinging, the pitch was wild and she advanced to first with Miller crossing home.
Ashley Filer then struck out swinging, leaving two on base for SWOSU.
The Bulldogs took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, this time thanks to a solo effort by
Adrienne Martinez. The senior slugger was the leadoff hitter for the Bulldogs and she sent the ball soaring towards the centerfield scoreboard.
Maci Brown and Hawk also recorded hits in the inning, but Filer struck out swinging again and left two more on base in scoring position.
Ciara Kuestersteffen reached second on a dropped fly ball to centerfield off a
Laura Wilson-pitch.
Rileigh Ricken, who had started the game in the circle for SWOSU, came back on, but threw a wild pitch that allowed Kuestersteffen to reach third. She would cross home thanks to a Carel drive into right field. Carel would cross the plate two batters later when Kaylin Taylor flew out to centerfield.
With one half-inning left, SWOSU stepped up to the plate with one final chance to win the game.
Sierra Potts was the leadoff hitter, and grounded out to second, and SWOSU's next two batters were also retired.
SWOSU's bats were silenced in the game, recording just four hits over seven innings. Martinez paced the Bulldogs with one hit in two at-bats, with her only hit being a solo homerun. She also led the team with six putouts as the Bulldogs fell to 0-3 on the season.
Newman 5, SWOSU 2Box Score It looked to be a pitchers' duel in the second game for SWOSU in the Round Robin, with the first four and a half innings a scoreless tie.
Taylor Eaves got the start in the circle for the Bulldogs in the second game.
The Bulldogs broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of Eaves. Just like Martinez in the first game, Eaves was the leadoff batter for SWOSU. Her hit sailed over the fence to the left of center, giving SWOSU a 1-0 lead.
Makensy Payne and
Tori Hawk both managed to get on base sooner after thanks to a single that dribbled down the right field line and a walk respectively. However, Martinez then grounded out without getting Payne across the plate from third and
Kaity Rash struck out swinging.
Scoring would continue for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth. Perry reached on a walk and was followed to the plate by Brown. Brown got a solid connection with the ball and doubled to right field, plating Perry in the process and giving SWOSU a 2-0 lead heading into the seventh.
Eaves had done well through six innings, allowing just four hits and not giving up any runs. However, Newman first doubled to centerfield before Kelsey Jones homered over the centerfield fence to draw the Jets even. Then with a new runner on third,
Molly Vivo was sent in for relief of Eaves. SWOSU would surrender three more runs before getting out of the inning. The Jets took on six batters in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Bulldogs were unable to find the big bats needed to take the game.
SWOSU finished with five hits in the game, led by Brown who went 2-3 at the plate with one RBI. Eaves took her second loss of the season as the Bulldogs dropped to 0-4 for the season.
The Bulldogs will return to action tomorrow at 1 PM when they take on Eastern New Mexico in Day Two of the SWOSU Round Robin.
