SHAWNEE- The Cavaliers (20-10, 14-6 SAC) spilt their double-header with No. 24 USAO (29-13, 14-5 SAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Cavaliers honored their seniors Bryanne Knox, Sutv Meely (SR/Tecumseh, Okla.), Sammy Leisinger (SR/Little Axe, Okla.) Dani Nissen (JR/Oklahoma City, Okla.), and Brooklyn Sparks (JR/McLoud, Okla.) prior to being forced to play their games at Maud High School due to field requirements. The Cavs took game one from the Drovers by a final score of 4-2, but then USAO won game two, 11-4.
The Cavs jumped to an early 2-0 lead in game one, on a two run homer, hit by Sammy Leisinger. The Cavs then extended their lead to 3-0 in the third inning, on a RBI double from Leisinger. The Drovers cut the Cavs lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth, but then SGU added one more insurance run in the sixth on a homerun by Crystal Pablo (SO/Gallup, N.M.).
Bryn Houlton (JR/Savanna, Okla.) picked up the complete game victory, to improve to 11-4 on the season. She went all 7 innings, allowing just two runs and she struck out one batter.
Leisinger powered the Cavs offense by going 2-3 with a double, homerun, and three RBI's. Sutv Meely went 2-3 with two runs scored, and Crystal Pablo went 1-3 with a homer. Jessica Nelson (JR/Lewisville, Texas), Ashli Hafford (JR/Blanchard, Okla.), and Lexis Young (FR/Mustang, Okla.) each had one hit a piece.
The Drovers controlled game two from the very start, by scoring four runs in the first inning, followed by two more in the second. The Cavs cut the lead to 6-1 in the fourth, but then USAO added 5 runs in the top of the fifth. SGU scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late, and the loss snapped the Cavs 9 game win streak.
Chula Chavez (JR/Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) was dealt the loss, and Bryn Houlton pitched the final 5 1/3 innings of the game for SGU. Sutv Meely lad the Cavs at the dish by going 3-4, and Sammy Leisinger stayed red-hot by going 2-4. Ashli Hafford went 2-4 with a two-run homerun, and Bryanne Knox (SR/Dickson, Okla.) went 2-3 at the plate. Crystal Pablo, Baylee Hughes (FR/Brighton, Ill.), and Lexis Young had one hit a piece as well.
The Cavs will now be on the road for the final three weeks of the regular season before hosting the SAC Tournment at the Ballfields at Firelake. St. Gregory's next game is at No. 1 Oklahoma City University on Tues., April 11. The double header is set to begin at 5 PM.