Cameron looks to stay hot at MSU Invitational
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2020
Cameron University Athletics
Kenton Means – Sports Information Director
LAWTON, Okla. – The Cameron softball team is looking to continue their hot streak and get to over .500 on the season as they face four games at the Midwestern State Invitational this weekend.
The Aggies look to build off a 4-1 weekend at the Edmond Festival, that ended with a three-game winning. CU made up the ground they lost on opening weekend at the Arkansas Tech Classic when they went 1-4 to open the 2020 campaign.
Cameron’s offense came alive last weekend, scoring 41 runs compared to just the 19 scored the weekend prior. Callie Busby has served as a driving force in the Aggie lineup so far this season, compiling a .444 batting average in her eight games played. The senior catcher also has a pair of home runs and has driven in nine runs this season.
Mikayla Oaks, an Aggie freshman, has already made her presence felt in the CU order as she has been able to hit for a .429 average with three extra-base hits and four RBI.
Senior hurler Bethany Hines has already tossed over 47 innings and taken over as the program leader in wins this season. She turns in a 4.29 ERA but has kept opposing batters under a .300 average in her nine appearances (six starts).
Anna Hammer was a big bright spot in the circle for CU last weekend, going for a complete game shutout (5 innings) in her lone start. She turned in four strikeouts and limited batters to just a lowly .118 batting average against.
Khmari Edwards is building on her 2019 All-American season to start this year’s slate. She is hitting .375 with five extra-base hits, 11 RBI, and six runs scored of her own.
The Black and Gold’s workload this weekend will be a little different than their previous two weekends. They will only play multiple games (2) one time this weekend (Friday, Feb. 14) with one game apiece on Saturday, Feb 15 and Sunday, Feb. 16.
Cameron’s weekend at the MSU Invitational gets underway against a pair of Oklahoma schools on Friday. They face Southwestern Oklahoma State at 5 p.m. and then Northwestern Oklahoma State for the night-cap at 7 p.m.
The Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs only have four games under the belt to start this season and are currently 0-4 after facing a tough schedule. The Bulldogs kicked their season off with a tilt against the No. 7 ranked Central Oklahoma Bronchos and had to take on Oklahoma Christian (who was pegged for a fourth place finish in the LSC).
Despite only scoring three runs in their first two games, the Bulldog bats rebounded for seven and 13 run outbursts to conclude the weekend in Edmond.
Brenna Simmons provides a huge spark SWOSU hitting .750 with three RBI and a pair of walks. Simmons has also logged 23 innings in the circle, where she and Alisa Friesen earned 23 and 12 strikeouts respectively. Both struggled to limit runs, with only Friesen being able to post a sub-8.00 ERA.
For Northwestern Oklahoma State, they still have not taken the field this season, as both of their scheduled doubleheaders against Southwest Baptist and Newman have been postponed due to weather. The Rangers are looking for a bounce-back season after a 9-43 2019 campaign.
Alexus Bailey, a senior outfielder from Oklahoma City, hit for nearly a .300 average a year ago, with 15 runs scored, 16 RBI, and almost perfect glove work.
Cameron’s Saturday matchup is a battle with Nebraska-Kearney at 1 p.m. in the Falls. UNK is in the same boat as the Black and Gold, searching to improve on their .500 start. They went 3-3 in their opening weekends with wins over a pair of Lone Star Conference teams (Eastern New Mexico, and UTPB) as well as narrow losses to Lubbock Christian and St. Edwards.
Sarah Handrahan leads UNK in the circle and has tossed over eight innings in her two appearances (one start) to the tune of a sub-2.00 ERA and five strikeouts.
The Aggies end the weekend with a contest against Regis on Sunday at 11 a.m. RU is just 1-4 to start this season with their lone win being over Oklahoma Baptist to start the year. Of their four losses, two came against tough LSC opponents in West Texas A&M and Oklahoma Christian.
Jessi Case leads the way at the plate with a .333 average, three extra-base hits, and an RBI. Kara Rodeheaver turned in 14 good innings during the opening weekend for Regis. She owns a 3.00 ERA with a team-high 12 strikeouts and has only allowed a .218 batting average against.
After their weekend stop in Wichita Falls, the Aggie softball team will be back in the mix at the Edmond Festival, Feb. 21-23, for their final non-conference weekend slate. The weekend begins with a battle against Fort Hays State on Friday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m.
Kenton Means, ‘15
Sports Information Director – Cameron University
2800 W. Gore Blvd., South Shepler 512
Lawton, OK 73505
Office – (580) 581-2303
Cell – (580) 583-2210
Fax – (580) 581-5537