OKWU baseball and softball teams have 30 wins on the season
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Gabby Simpson (24) pitches during an earlier season game. The Eagles swept Bethel (Kan.) last week.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
March 24, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
The following is a summary of Oklahoma Wesleyan University baseball and softball:
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Make that 29 wins for the Oklahoma Wesleyan University baseball team — with an excellent chance to reach 30-plus prior to the end of this week.
The sizzling Eagles scorched Sterling (Kan.) College in a three-set last weekend — 11-7, 15-1, and 9-8 — at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium to improve to 29-3, tying the hottest start (through 32 games) in team history.
Fate dealt Sterling a rotten hand — taking on OKWU a long three angry days after the Eagles blew a potential win in the late innings against Tabor (Kan.) College, 19-14. Sterling felt the simmering sting of OKWU's frustration.
The Eagles will ride the momentum of its three-game sweep of Sterling into four scheduled road games this week.
Their next home game is set for March 28 against Park University.
Following are summaries of OKWU’s wins last weekend against Sterling.
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OKWU 11, Sterling 7
Trailing 9-0 after three innings, Sterling likely felt like a tiger trying to run on ice.
The Eagles crushed two homers in the top of the first — a leadoff shot by Ravaughn Morgan and a three-run dinger by Brenden Poindexter.
Jorge Aldrete also drove in a run to put the Eagles ahead, 5-0, going into the second inning.
After grabbing the big lead, the Eagles held on to it like with white-knuckled vivacity.
Other big hits in the later innings included a solo circuit clout by Chase Pinheiro and a sacrifice fly by Aldrete.
Javier Marcial mashed three singles and scored three runs.
Pinheiro finished four-for-four at the plate.
Evan Foor threw the first seven innings to pick up the win and improve to 8-0. Carson Frazier harvested the save by recording the final out on a flyout.
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OKWU 15, Sterling 1
Victor Sanchez, Connor Hickey and Aldrete each blasted homers for OKWU. The list of doubles’ hitters included Sanchez, Luis Antigua, Poindexter and Alejandro Quiles.
Aldrete drove home four runs, followed by Sanchez, Hickey, Poindexter and Quiles with two apiece.
Braydon Caldwell contributed two singles in the nine-hole spot.
OKWU put the game away with eight runs in the bottom of the sixth — highlighted by Aldrete’s grand slam and Quiles’ two-run double.
Michael Mendoza snapped off the complete-game gem on the bump. He spun a six hitter with six strikeouts and one walk. Sterling’s run was unearned.
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OKWU 9, Sterling 8
This game has a 1960s flavor — it was a real yo-yo affair.
There were four lead changes and a tie in seven innings. The Eagles burst ahead in the bottom of the sixth, 9-8, on Aldrete’s three-run homer and then relied on relief pitcher Matthew Weidkamp — who collected the victory — to wrap it up in the top of the seventh while leaving a runner stranded at second base.
Poindexter also homered — with a solo blast — for OKWU.
Morgan and Antigua both doubled and Marcial and Aldrete lifted a sacrifice fly apiece. Morgan drove in two runs and scored twice.
Ashton Luera pitched most the way for OKWU, scattering five hits in 4.1 innings while allowing only three earned runs. Weidkamp finished up the final 2.2 frames.
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By Becky Burch
Bartlesville Area Sports
The Oklahoma Wesleyan University softball team has won four games in a row, extending their record to 30-8.
Most recently, the Eagles defeated Bethel (Kan.) at home, 3-0 and 4-1.
In the first game, Gabby Simpson picked up the win, pitching seven innings. She struck out six batters and allowed only two hits with no walks in the 3-0 Eagle win.
Alyssa Olivas began the second inning with a triple to left field. She later scored on a Taryn Rhodes sacrifice fly to center field.
With one out in the third inning, Jessica Watson singled to center field. Raegan Rector doubled to right field, scoring Watson.
Brooke Tyler scored the Eagles’ final run of the game in the third inning. Tayrn Rhodes began the inning with a walk and Tyler taking over on the bases. Laramie Neff and Jill Blair both grounded out, advancing Tyler to second and third base. Jessica Watson singled to left field to score Tyler.
In the second game, Eagles pitcher Maddy Wiese earned the win, with Saige Lovelle in relief for three innings for the 4-1 win.
At the plate, Jill Blair, Watson, and Rector all scored runs. Rector had three hits with two RBIs. Blair contributed two hits, while Olivas had one hit and one RBI. Brooklyn Purtell singled in the first inning. Olivas added a hit and an RBI in the game.
Since 2021, the Eagles are 9-1 over Bethel.