Box Score WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The Bulldogs rode a strong hitting performance to the first victory of the season, topping Eastern New Mexico 6-2. It was the first victory for the team under the instruction of Head Coach
Barbara Burnett.
Though the Zias took an early lead in the top of the first, the Bulldogs responded immediately.
Miranda McDonald singled and was on first when
Adrienne Martinez stepped up to bat. Martinez hit her second home run of the weekend, bombing it over the fence just left of centerfield to give SWOSU a 2-1 lead.
Eastern New Mexico tied it up in the third while also holding SWOSU scoreless through the next three innings. In the bottom of the fifth, the Bulldogs got their bats going again to the tune of three hits that plated three runs. Martinez earned her second RBI of the game on a hit down the right field line that brought in
Ashley Dunigan. Then, with
Tori Hawk on second and Matinez on third,
Maci Brown hit to the right side gap that sent the two base runners home and gave SWOSU the lead for good.
Kaitlyn Kromer pinch ran for
Cheyenne Trotter, and crossed home off a McDonald bunt for the final run of the game. SWOSU went to the top of the seventh needing just three outs to secure their first victory of the season.
Rileigh Rickens had to face just four more batters to secure the first victory of her collegiate career. The game was won on a double play turned by
Samantha Perry and Dunigan.
McDonald led the Bulldogs at the plate, connecting on 3-4 at-bats with one run and one RBI as SWOSU recorded 11 hits on the afternoon. Martinez was the anchor for the defense, turning in a game-high 13 putouts.
"The girls came out with another mindset today," said Burnett about the win. "We connected with ball and made the plays we needed to in order to get the win."
SWOSU will close out the Round Robin on Sunday, February 8 at 2 PM with a game against Washburn.
