LAWTON, Ok — Aggies softball has clinched a playoff spot after their doubleheader sweep of the Texas Woman's Pioneers on Friday evening. Earlier in the week, Cameron softball was ranked No. 9 in the NCAA Division II South Central rankings and have continued their success. The two teams met back in late March in Lawton when the series was split. Cameron won the first one by one run 2-1 but lost the second game 4-5. In Denton, TX the Aggies took both match ups from their clutch bats.

Game 1 Recap: Double-Digit Mercy Victory 

After a slow first inning, Cameron began the scoring with two runs in the top of the second to take the games first lead, 2-0. Kelsey Creech doubled into the right center gap on a full count to score both Mia Garcia and Rylee Ross. The Pioneers responded in the bottom of the third with a run of their own from an RBI single to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. Cameron answered in a big way in their next offensive opportunity. 

Cameron went up big in the top of the fourth as eight runs crossed home plate. For her second extra base hit on the day, Creech laced a double down the left field line to score Garcia, 3-1. Kaiden Boren singled up the middle for two runs to extend the lead to four, 5-1. Haley Gardella swung on a 3-0 count and smacked an RBI single to the left side, 6-1. Catcher Kyndel McDaniel followed with another RBI single up the middle, 7-1. On a sacrifice bunt from Ross, Payton Dickerson hustled home for another run, 8-1. Anslie Roach singled to right field to allow Shiya Victorian to touch home, 9-1. To cap the scoring, Creech batted around and reached on a fielder's choice that scored Garcia, 10-1. 

The Pioneers scored a run in the fifth but it was too little too late as the Aggies mercy Texas Woman's, 10-2. Creech tallied three hits, two RBI and scored once from the leadoff spot. Behind the dish, McDaniel contributed two hits and an RBI. Ross also had a multi-hit game with a run scored and an RBI. In the pitching circle, Stormee Reed delivered five innings and five strikeouts in the mercy victory. 

Game 2 Recap: Seventh Inning Heroics
The Aggies began the second game of the doubleheader where they left off. The Cameron bats scored three runs early from two rockets over the fence. Creech began the game with a full count walk for the game's first base runner. Madysen Boutwell stepped up to the plate and launched a two-run home run over the center field fence, 2-0. Two batters later, McDaniel continued her successful day and smashed a home run over the left field fence to extend the lead to three, 3-0. 

Before the Pioneers were able to swing the bats, Cameron led by three. Texas Woman's scored one in the bottom of the second inning from a solo shot, 3-1. The Pioneers took their first lead of the day in the third inning as they scored four. Two doubles led to four RBI for the Texas Woman's advantage, 3-5. Cameron would score one in the top of the sixth from a Ross RBI single, 4-5. But the Pioneers responded with yet another solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, 4-6. 

Then the seventh inning happened where the Aggies rallied back to take the edge. Garcia began the final frame with a double in the right center alley. Kelsey Loughman followed with a single up the middle for an RBI to cut to come within one, 5-6. After a pitching change for the Pioneers, Gardella singled to left field for the game tying RBI, 6-6. With ducks on the pound, McDaniel singled up the middle to not only regain the lead for the Aggies but score an insurance run, 8-6. Reed finished off the scoreless bottom of the seventh inning to complete the miraculous comeback. 

McDaniel alone contributed three RBI off of two hits including a home run. First baseman Boutwell also went yard for two RBI and a walk. Tinley Schmidgall struggled to begin the game as she allowed six hits, five runs and two walks. Reed came in for relief in the third inning and only allowed one run from four hits and struck out six in 4.2 innings. The incredible seventh inning comeback not only swept Texas Woman's in the doubleheader but clinched a playoff spot. 

Up Next: The Aggies will conclude the regular season at the University of Texas on Sunday, April 27th. First pitch of the doubleheader will begin at 1pm. Cameron has clinched a playoff spot and will continue their season in the postseason.