From SGU Sports Info.
Brad Collins, Sports Information Director
OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 6 St. Gregory’s found its offensive rhythm in sweeping its first two pool games of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Thursday at Ann Lacy Stadium. The Cavaliers downed Southwestern Christian, 22-0, before defeating Texas Wesleyan, 8-0, in the nightcap.
The Cavs face off against No. 17 Oklahoma City Friday at 3:30 p.m. The winner advances to Saturday’s championship game.
Led by a career day from Melanie Gladden, St. Gregory’s scored a combined 30 runs on 30 hits. Gladden, a junior from Asher, went 7-for-7 on the day with six RBIs and five runs scored.
The Cavs tallied a season high in runs and turned only the second reported triple play in NAIA history in their win over Southwestern Christian.
St. Gregory’s set the tone early, scoring seven in a first inning highlighted by a two-run home run from junior Allison Eales. It was her fourth long ball of the season. Up 9-0 in the third, the Cavs sent 12 hitters to the plate during an eight-run inning. Gladden had two of her team-leading four hits in the frame, capping the scoring burst with a two-run double.
For the game, Gladden was 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, three runs scored and four RBIs.
That triple play came in the top of the third after the Lady Eagles led off the inning with consecutive hits against St. Gregory’s starter Mollie Carter. SCU’s Bailey Jones then hit a ground ball up the middle that glanced off the glove of Carter to SGU third baseman Brooklyn Sparks.
Sparks threw to first for the force before receiving the ball back at third. She ran Lady Eagle Jazmine Koerner back to second base and threw to Randi Yousey, who tagged Koerner out at second. Yousey completed the play by throwing to Courtni Clark at first base where she tagged out SCU’s Chloe Wright, who was retreating back to the bag. The play was scored 1-5-4-5-8-4.
Although reporting has been limited, the only other recorded triple play came in 2012 when Park University achieved the feat.
Yousey finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Whitney Anderson, Caitlin O’Hagan and Eales each chipped in with two hits.
Carter (13-2) scattered four hits over four innings to earn the victory in the circle. She struck out one and walked two.
St. Gregory’s broke a scoreless tie in the second game by plating three runs in the second inning – all with two outs. Dani Nissen highlighted the frame with a run-scoring single through the left side.
The Cavs virtually put it away with four in the third. Yousey’s two-RBI single capped that inning.
Gladden finished the contest 3-for-3 while Nissen was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Devon Frazier (18-1) pitched 3-2/3 innings of one-hit ball to pick up the win. She struck out five and walked one.