OPSU Softball Hosts Senior Day

Goodwell, Okla.—OPSU seniors Ashly Duin, Kolbi Graves and Lilli Ward played the final home games of their college careers Friday afternoon against Lubbock Christian University; the three seniors were recognized for their contributions to Aggie softball in between games of the double-header.

Ward, who has played two seasons for the Aggies at centerfield, topped the team in batting against the Lady Chaps going 4-7 and scoring two runs; she also grabbed two putouts for the series.

At third base, Duin totaled four putouts on the series and went 1-5 batting; she is also finishing her second season as an Aggie.

Completing her first year at right field, Graves hit 1-5 against LCU scoring one run and putting two out in the field.

LCU came into the weekend ranked second in the Heartland Conference with 41-10 overall record and added two more notches to their win column after Friday’s games.

The Lady Chaps announced their presence in game one with a five-inning, 14-run win over the Aggies (18-4). Taylor Richardson got her tenth start on the rubber for OPSU pitching three innings against the hard-hitting bats of LCU; Richardson gave up 20 hits and 18 runs, throwing three strikeouts.

Samantha Arledge opened the fourth inning of game one throwing three straight strikeouts and holding the Lady Chaps scoreless the remainder of the game. Arledge threw a total of five strikeouts in her two innings in the circle and allowed only one hit and zero runs.

Scoring runs for the Aggies in game one were Lilli Ward with two runs, Anyssa Barbosa with one run, and Kolbi Graves with one run. Salina Galindo knocked in two RBI in the first inning and Ward and Rachel Thompson each drove doubles in the fourth; Thompson’s good for two RBI.

The Aggies were up 3-1 after five innings in game two, but LCU brought in four runs in the sixth and one in the seventh grabbing a 6-3 win to seal up the series. Arledge took the loss in the circle for the Aggies pitching a full seven innings with 13 hits, five earned runs and six strikeouts.

Madison Heathington went 2-3 in game two scoring two runs with two RBI; Heathington racked up her ninth home run of the season in the fifth inning. Salina Galindo came across home plate in the third inning off a sacrifice fly by Heathington.

OPSU’s record now stands at 9-33 for the season with two conference wins. The Aggies will finish their season on the road with a double-header against Bacone College on Wednesday, April 23 followed by a three-game conference series with Rogers State April 25-26.

Once again, thank you to our senior softball players Ashly Duin, Kolbi Graves and Lilli Ward for their fine representation of Oklahoma Panhandle State University and Aggie Athletics; best of luck with your future endeavors.