NEO softball wins two over Connors State

NEO Sports
Monty Franks

MIAMI, Okla. — After concluding the month of March with an 11-2 record, the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Lady Norse entertained Northern Oklahoma College-Enid Saturday in a double-header at Iverson Field.

Extending their current winning streak to five games, the Lady Norse swept an Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference twinbill Friday from Connors State College (10-2 and 22-6) at Warner.  NEO won 4-0 in the first game before registering a 2-0 shutout in the nightcap.

With the sweep the Lady Norse moved into second place in the conference with an 11-1 record. NEO is 19-5 on the season prior to the Northern-Enid (8-4 and 25-10) double-header.

Freshman right-hander Olivia Prather (8-3) limited the Connors Cowgirls to a single in the 2-0 victory. Prather struck out eight and walked two against 26 total batters faced.

The Lady Norse grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Maci Willingham reached on a fielding error by shortstop Kinzi Mathis to start the game.

After Shelby Prather sacrificed Willingham to second base, Libby Morris singled to right-center scoring Willingham.

With runners at first and second in the top of the seventh inning, NEO first baseman Rachel Haberman slammed a 1-1 pitch over the left-field fence for her fourth home run of the year for a 4-0 Norse cushion.

Willingham, Haberman and Morris collected two hits each to lead the Lady Norse offense.

Veteran right-hander Rylee Willmon (9-3) tossed a one-hitter in seven innings against the Cowgirls in the second game. Willmon struck out seven and walked three against 25 total Connors batters.

Through five complete innings neither team could put runs on the scoreboard.

NEO snapped the scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Shelby Prather walked to start the rally. After Morris bunted Prather to second, Jordan Wharton singled to center scoring Prather.

A sacrifice bunt by Lena Sanders sent Wharton to second before Haberman doubled down the left field line scoring Wharton.

The Lady Norse are schedule for a 5 p.m. OCAC double-header Tuesday at No. 6 ranked Seminole State College. Prior to Saturday’s double-header at Connors State, the Lady Trojans lead the conference with a perfect 12-0 record and a 29-7 overall mark.

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