Softball records first-ever win!

SAGU rolls to 5-1 win in Oklahoma

Doyle, Svochak, Johnson lead Lady Lions against Hillsdale

MOORE, Oklahoma  -- Chelsey Doyle (Seattle, Wash / Shorecrest HS) scored a run and drove in a pair to lead the Southwestern Assemblies of God University women's softball team to their first win in school history. In defeating Hillsdale College, 5-1 in the second game of a doubleheader, head coach Tim Grant's new program made headlines on their first day of action! 

The Lady Lions held a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning of the first game before the Saints scored a run to tie things up, then pushed across the winning tally in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-2 Hillsdale victory.

In both games, the Southwestern wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard.

In the nightcap of the twinbill, SAGU scored in the second and extended their advantage to 3-0 in the third.

Iliana Jimenez (Crystal City, Tx / Crystal City HS), a sophomore leftfielder, singled and stole second base. She advanced to third on an infield hit by Kelsea Svochak (Ft. Worth, Tx / Bethesda Christian). "Loni" zoomed home on a passed ball by the Hillsdale catcher.

Kyla Burke (Red Oak, Tx / Red Oak HS) coaxed a walk in the third. Kasey Poovey (Nevada, Tx / Community HS) then hammered a double to rightfield and the Lions were roaring in the dugout.

Doyle, the colorful catcher, followed with another double, crushing the blast to the fence in right-centerfield driving in both Burke and Poovey.

Southwestern tacked on insurance runs in the fourth and seventh frames for a 5-0 scoreboard bulge.

In the fourth, Theresa Ballard (Austin, Tx / Homeschool) singled up the middle, and moved to third on back-to-back passed balls. Burke's infield hit allowed Ballard to score.

Doyle lined a shot to right-center and moved into scoring position when Jessica Smith (Houston, Tx / LaPorte HS) stroked a single to right. Jimenez punched one to centerfield to knock in Doyle for the five-run margin.

Meanwhile, Svochak (like SWO-chak) was mowing through the Lady Saints line-up. She finished a complete-game seven hitter, allowing a lone run in the bottom of the last inning. The junior hurler (1-0) did not walk a single batter and struck out three.

Southwestern outhit Hillsdale by a 14-7 count.

Game One Recap

In their initial contest, SAGU wasted little time in scoring with solo runs in the first and second.

Burke scored the inaugural run in school history when Doyle smashed an RBI single to rightcenter. After the Lady Halos scored the equalizer in their half of the first, the Lady Lions went up 2-1.

Ballard, a sophomore infielder, took advantage of Hillsdale control issues. She walked, swiped second, then trotted to third on a passed ball by the catcher. Taking what the opposition offered, she became a flyin' Lion on another catcher miscue for a 2-1 margin.

Southwestern received an impressive performance by freshman pitcher, Lauren Johnson (Waxahachie, Tx / Waxahachie HS). She fired a complete-game two-hitter, walking four and fanning five.

The Jungle Queens missed a golden opportunity late in the game. Jimenez smacked a one-out triple past the rightfielder, but failed to score when the ensuing batters grounded to shortstop and struck out.

SAGU showed few first game jitters, though they managed just three hits in the opener. They walked twice and committed only three errors.

Following the doubleheader, the team enjoyed their return ride home from their first road trip, a 245-mile trek north of Waxahachie. Moore is located south of Oklahoma City and north of Norman.

Upcoming Games for SAGU Softball: Home debut on Feb. 24

The Lady Lions, who had a pair of doubleheaders with Hillsdale rained out in the previous two weeks, will be in San Antonio this weekend. They will take on Our Lady of the Lake University at 3:00pm on Friday, Feb. 10, then play the Lady Saints in a twin-bill on Saturday, with the first game starting at noon.

OLLU is currently 0-0, though they did split a pair of exhibition games against the Coastal Bend College (Tx) Cougars. They won the opener, 3-1, in eight innings, then lost to the Junior College team in a 3-2 verdict. The games this weekend will begin their season.

Last spring the Saints finished second in the Red River Athletic Conference with a 16-5 league mark. They were 26-20 overall. 

Southwestern, in a season of firsts, will play their first ever home games at their new campus ballpark, which is nearing completion. They will meet Langston University at 3:00pm on Friday, Feb. 24. The two teams will also play a pair on Saturday, slated for a game one noon first pitch.

Langston finished sixth in the Red River a year ago with a 14-22 won-lost ledger. They posted a 9-12 conference record.

Northwood University, of nearby Cedar Hill, is the team-to-beat. They received votes in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Knights racked up a 37-13 record in 2011, including 18-3 against league foes.

Contact: Mark "Link" Warde, Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.