OPSU ousted in SAC tournament

CHICKASHA --- The Oklahoma Panhandle State Softball team saw a first-round exit in the 2022 SAC Conference Tournament after losing both of their games.

The Aggie offense struggled immensely against both the Southwestern Assemblies of God Lions and the Southwestern Christian Eagles. Only managing five hits between the two games as they possibly see their season come to an end.

Game 1

Despite holding the lead for the majority of the game, the Aggies allowed the game to slip away from them in extra innings. Weak contact and strikeouts gave the Aggies little to no chance of a comeback.

Sarah Conley earned the start for the first game of the tournament. Tossing seven innings of two-run ball before handing the ball off to Kenley Yocom. Yocom finished the game for the Aggies, surrendering the deciding run in the top of the ninth.

Panhandle State would take an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as senior Kayli Grove singled to right field to score Brielee Daniell. Both teams would be at the mercy of the opposing pitcher till the seventh inning. In the top of the seventh, the Lions would take the 2-1 lead over the Aggies. Leaving the Aggies to their final three outs to take the lead or tie.

Caitley Adams would tie it up and send the Aggies to extra innings as she was hit by a pitch with bases loaded. Panhandle State saw their luck run out in extra innings as an error in the top of the ninth gave the Lions the lead and three straight outs ended the game.

Game 2

Hoping to see the second day of the tournament, the Aggies headed into the nightcap against the Southwestern Christian Eagles. However, the dismal Aggie offense from Game 1 continued into the nightcap.

Kenley Yocom would make her first start and second appearance of the tournament in game two. Tossing the complete game, surrendering only two earned runs on eight hits.

The Panhandle State offense was unable to tap into their usual production from the regular season in order to keep their season alive.

The Eagles’ pitching forced weak groundouts and popouts to keep the Aggies off base. Unable to capitalize off of errors and runners in scoring position with less than two outs, the Aggies would see an early exit after two straight losses in the SAC tournament