Chickasha, Okla. – In thrilling fashion with a walk-off steal of home, Science & Arts claimed their third consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference Softball Tournament Championship with a 4-3 victory over No. 2 seed Oklahoma City Sunday afternoon at Bill Smith Ballpark.
 
This is the seventh straight season the two SAC rivals have met in the tournament finale, with the top-seeded Drovers now holding a 4-3 advantage in the meetings. The two squads split their regular-season series earlier this spring.
 
Oklahoma City cracked the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning as the Stars took advantage of a throwing error to score the first run of the game, as they grabbed a 1-0 lead. That advantage held until the home half of the fifth inning when the Drovers put runners at second and third with one out as Sierra Selfridge launched a three-run blast over the center field wall to put Science & Arts ahead 3-1.
 
The Stars cut the deficit to one in the top of the sixth as Emersen Heron opened the inning with a solo home run out to left field to make the score 3-2. Oklahoma City then drew the game even in the top of the seventh as Carlee Mollet doubled down the left field line and then moved to third on a ground out. Mollet scored as Iliana Ashford singled up the middle to put the score at 3-3.
 
The Drovers started the bottom of the seventh as Taylor Cronic drew a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Malea McMurtrey singled, and a pitch hit Leighanne Eaton to load the bases. Cronic then stole home to claim the tournament crown for the Drovers.
 
McMurtrey paced the Drovers offense with two hits, while Selfridge added three runs driven in for the victory, while Sophie Williams earned the win in the circle by allowing five hits and eight strikeouts in the outing. Grace Pollon and Heron each had a hit and a run batted in during the loss.
 
Both teams will be hosting the first round of the NAIA National Softball Tournament and will await to hear who they will be hosting when the tournament selection show takes place on Wednesday, May 7 at 5 p.m. CT.