Softball Goes 3-3 in Tourney

February 22, 2009

DURANT, Okla. - Southwestern Oklahoma State University's softball team passed a tough early-season test earning a 3-3 split against six NCAA Division II teams from some of the top conferences in the region. The Bulldogs were one of 14 teams participating in the three-day Southeastern Oklahoma State University Invitational that took place in Durant, Okla.

SWOSU was 12-10 winners against Central Missouri State in their final game Sunday after losing earlier in the day to Emporia State, 4-2. SWOSU, now 5-7 on the year, begins Lone Star Conference North Division play Tuesday at Northeastern State. The Bulldogs first home game will be against the same Northeastern team Saturday. The doubleheader is to start at 12 p.m.

SWOSU split Saturday's games defeating Pittsburg State, 7-2, in the opener and then losing 8-4 to Washburn University in the nightcap.

SWOSU had Washburn on the ropes taking a 4-2 lead into the seventh before the Lady Blues scored six runs in their last at bat. SWOSU committed two errors in the field that allowed Washburn to extend the inning and take the lead.

Earlier Saturday, SWOSU dominated Pittsburg State behind the pitching of Alex Zukerman. The Lawton senior went seven innings, allowed three hits and two runs to pick up the win. She struck out two and walked eight but each time managed to avoid trouble by getting a key out in critical times.

SWOSU's hitting stars against PSU were Laiken Lester who put the Bulldogs in front early with a two-run homer in the second and Raven Staats who drove in three runs.

SWOSU used some extra-inning heroics to get past Northwest Missouri State by a 7-6 score on Friday. Katie Raines scored the winning run after being moved to third on a sacrifice and made it home on a fielder's choice by Kristina Davis.

Raines pitched the entire eight innings to pick up the win. She allowed just four runs while scattering 10 hits. She struck out five batters and walked just three.

In Friday's opener against Nebraska-Omaha, SWOSU managed just three hits and scored just one run in a 6-1 loss. The Bulldogs run came in the second inning when Sara Harwell drove in Meghan Browning with a one-out single.