CHICKASHA, OK - Texas Wesleyan Softball (26-27) ended the season on a high note with a 16-4 blasting of Southwestern Christian (14-37) to complete pool play at the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament.
Despite going 2-1 on their side of the bracket, the Lady Rams' 8-0 loss to unbeaten No. 1 University of Science and Arts-Oklahoma Thursday was their eliminator. The Drovers were tested by Southwestern Assemblies of God Saturday but USAO prevailed for the 59th straight time - a streak that dates all the way back to last season - 2-1 over the Lions.
USAO will face No. 3 Oklahoma City for the SAC Championship Sunday at 1 p.m. in Oklahoma City. It's the first time there's been a Championship Game rematch in the modern SAC. The two schools have combined to win the last three NAIA National Championships.
The Lady Rams blasted the Eagles for 11 runs in the fourth inning and five in the third, putting the game quickly out of reach.
Bailey Terry capped a memorable four seasons as a Ram with a two-run home run over the left-field fence with the second pitch received, also scoring senior teammate
Makenna Aycock. It was Terry's 11th homer of the season and added one more to her legacy. The program's all-time home-run hitter finishes a stellar career with 39. Terry also singled later in the inning as Texas Wesleyan worked through the lineup and back around. Through the fourth, Aycock doubled and six different Lady Rams were walked.
The Eagles committed five errors while TXWES kept a clean sheet. Aycock pitched the full five, striking out seven.
Kylie Summers (two RBI), Aycock (two), Terry (three),
Kaitlyn Johnson (two) all finished with multiple RBI. Terry was 3-for-4, helping the Lady Rams score 16 runs on just seven hits.
The Lady Rams won all five meetings with Southwestern Christian in 2019 and the 16 runs scored tied the most scored in a game with the two times 16 runs were put up against Bacone, who is leaving the conference at the end of the season. The Warriors went 2-36 this season.
Texas Wesleyan has won 25 games or more in each of the last four seasons and a young nucleus that includes freshman shortstop
Kylie Summers, the team's top batting average (
Lacy Mann), leader in stolen bases (
Hailey Hollingsworth) and doubles and triples leader (
Taylor Sutton) gives the program plenty of excitement to look forward to next season.