While many other Oklahoma Christian University students spent spring break traveling or volunteering, the Oklahoma Christian softball spent their days on the diamond.
The Lady Eagles went on the road March 14 to battle in a doubleheader against Heartland Conference opponent Newman University in Wichita, KS.
In the first game, Oklahoma Christian opened the game with a run by senior Madison Nordyke off a single by senior Kaylie Upton.
Newman answered quick in the bottom of the second with two runs to go ahead by one run.
Oklahoma Christian scored two more runs in the game. Junior Caitlin Young scored in the top of the third inning after an error by Newman third-baseman Erin Jankiewicz. In the top of the fourth inning, junior Lacey Davidson crossed home to score after sophomore Daelyn Denny hit a double to left field.
The Lady Eagles won the first game of the doubleheader 3-2 over the Newman Jets.
Pitching the win, Nordyke (3-5) only allowed four hits and threw three strikeouts over seven innings of play.
During the second game, neither team scored until the sixth inning of play.
Oklahoma Christian scored two runs in the top of the inning. Senior Sheridan Fuller crossed home for the Lady Eagles’ first run off a hit by sophomore Bailey Strecker. Then, Strecker scored on a throwing error to give Oklahoma Christian the lead, 2-0.
The Lady Jets tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runs.
After a scoreless seventh inning for Oklahoma Christian, Newman scored one run in the bottom of the inning to win the game 2-3.
Senior Madison Hagood (3-6) pitched the loss for the Lady Eagles. She threw nine strikeouts and only allowed Newman five hits throughout the game.
After being in Kansas, the Lady Eagles traveled to Laredo, TX to play Texas A&M International University in a three-game series March 16-17.
In the first game of the series, the Lady Dustdevils held Oklahoma Christian to only four hits and no runs, but the Lady Dustdevils scored three runs to beat the Lady Eagles 0-3.
Hagood (3-7) started on the mound for Oklahoma Christian and was credited with the loss. She pitched four innings, allowing two runs and four hits. Upton stepped in and pitched two innings, giving up one hit and one run.
Although the Lady Eagles managed to score in the second game of the series, they lost to the Lady Dustdevils 2-3.
Down by two in the sixth inning, Oklahoma Christian tied the game in the top of the sixth inning with runs scored by seniors Jessica Killer and Hunter Strickland.
The Lady Eagles could not manage to score in the top of the seventh, but the Lady Dustdevils scored one run to close the game 2-3 and sweep Oklahoma Christian.
Upton (8-2) started on the mound for Oklahoma Christian and pitched three innings before she was relieved by Nordyke for one inning. Hagood replaced Nordyke in the seventh inning and faced four batters. Hagood (3-8) was credited with the loss.
After losing two games to Texas A&M International, Oklahoma Christian won the final game of the three-game series 3-1 March 17.
Neither team scored until the sixth inning of play. Oklahoma Christian scored one run in the top of the inning when Upton hit a single up the middle of the field to score Nordyke. The Dustdevils also scored one run in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game, 1-1.
Since the game was tied after seven innings of play, the game went to eight innings. In the extra inning, senior Kayla Eichler hit her first homerun of the 2018 season, which scored her and Upton to give the Lady Eagles a 3-1 win over the Dustdevils.
Hagood (4-8) was given the win for Oklahoma Christian from the pitcher’s mound, but she only pitched the eighth inning. She threw a scoreless inning to close the game and give the Lady Eagles the win.
After a one-day break, the Lady Eagles traveled to Kingsville, TX to play Texas A&M University–Kingsville in a doubleheader March 19.
Between the two games, the Lady Eagles only scored two runs overall.
In the first match, Oklahoma Christian beat the Lady Javelinas 1-0. Fuller recorded the lone score in the top of the sixth inning.
Oklahoma Christian only hit the ball twice during the game. While the Lady Javelinas connected on six hits, they could not score.
Pitching the win for the Lady Eagles, Upton (9-2) threw five innings and only allowed five hits. Hagood relieved her in the sixth inning to close the game and record her sixth save of the season, which is still the best in the Heartland Conference.
During the second game, Oklahoma Christian only scored one run in the top of the fifth inning when Fuller again scored for the lone run. This score was not enough to overcome the deficit and the Lady Eagles lost 1-3.
Hagood (4-9) pitched the loss for Oklahoma Christian. She allowed five hits and two runs before Nordyke relieved her in the sixth inning.
To close out spring break, Oklahoma Christian traveled to Austin, TX to battle Heartland Conference opponent St. Edwards University Mar. 23.
The Lady Eagles went ahead early in the first with three runs in the top of the third inning. Then, St. Edwards scored two in the bottom of third to bring the game within one, 3-2.
Oklahoma Christian scored three more runs to win the first game over the Lady Hilltoppers, 6-4.
Eichler recorded the most hits for the Lady Eagles with two, and Fuller scored the most runs with two.
Upton (10-2) was credited with the win for the Lady Eagles, allowing only two runs and striking out two batters. Hagood pitched the seventh inning to close the win and record her seventh save of the season.
The second game of the series held less scoring from both teams as only three runs were scored between the two teams.
Oklahoma Christian scored one run in the first inning, when senior Bridget White hit a homerun. Then, the Lady Eagles scored a single run in the sixth inning when Nordkye’s hit scored Fuller.
In the 2-1 win over the Lady Hilltoppers, Nordyke (4-5) pitched the two final innings and was credited with the win. She struck out one batter and allowed zero runs. Hagood started the game pitching for the Lady Eagles and only allowed one run in four innings.
Oklahoma Christian competed the series sweep over St. Edwards with an 11-8 win March 24.
Over 10 innings, three extra innings of play, the Lady Eagles finally closed the game with four runs in the 10th inning and held the Lady Hilltoppers to one run.
Upton and Killer recorded the most hits for Oklahoma Christian with three each.
Nordyke (5-5) pitched the win for the Lady Eagles. She pitched the final three innings of the game and struck out two batters. Upton started on the mound for the Lady Eagles, pitched four innings and allowed three runs. Hagood relieved her in the fifth inning. She pitched three innings and struck out three batters.
Oklahoma Christian closed spring break with 19 wins and 16 losses on the season.
The Lady Eagles continue their road game stretch as they travel to Lawton, OK to play Cameron University in a doubleheader April 3 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
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