March 28, 2024

Summer Leitka (Seminole) pitches her 14th complete game and eighth shutout of the season

CHICKASHA – The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (27-4, 10-0) extended a 14-game winning streak in a Friday afternoon doubleheader, taking both games against the Texas Wesleyan Lady Rams (11-13, 3-5).

The Drovers dominated the first game with a 6-0shutout and then came from behind to win the second2-1.

Offensively, the Drovers grabbed their first three runs of the day in the second inning after both teams blanked the opening inning.

In the second, Sevie Carel doubled to left field to score Ciara Kuestersteffen and Hannah Neill, who was pinch running for Shania Beck. Carel returned home two batters later when Kaylin Taylor singled her in.

In the next inning, Courtney Capps’ triple to right field scored Tate Landmark, who’d led off the inning with a single.

The Drovers’ final two runs came in the fourth as Kuestersteffen and Taylor each scored unearned runs after two Ram errors. The next two and a half innings played out without any runs by either team.

Summer Leitka (17-1) pitched her 14th complete game and eighth shutout of the season. She threw seven strikeouts and one walk while giving up no hits.

In the second game, Leitka threw the first five innings and struck out four batters. Landmark (6-1) came in as relief and struck out one batter and earned the win.

The Drovers trailed for half of the game after the Rams took the 1-0 lead in the third inning. USAO’s winning runs scored in the bottom of the sixth as Beck hit a foul fly that was caught but Dani Warren tagged third base and scored the tying run.

In the next at bat, Kayla Adams hit an RBI single out to left field to score Landmark for the winning run. The Drovers kept the Rams from scoring in the top of the seventh to take the victory.

After a weekend off, the Drovers will take on No. 6 Saint Gregory’s in another home doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday. [FULL SCHEDULE]