Ottawa extended its winning streak to nine games with its double header sweep of Haskell Indian Nations University last Saturday in Lawrence. OU won game one, 2-0 and took game two, 10-0 in five innings.
For the seventh time in program history the Braves have won 30 or more games in a season. OU has an overall record of 32-11-1 and finished first in the KCAC for the second straight season with a record of 20-4, its sixth conference championship in program history.
Through 44 games, OU has scored 271 runs and hit 35 home runs. The Braves have a .297 batting average, a .382 on base percentage, and a .466 slugging percentage.
The Braves are ranked 45th in the NAIA in runs (271), 35th in triples (14), 20th in home runs (35), 44th in RBI (242), 33rd in walks (137), 33rd in sacrifice flies (15), 45th in sacrifice hits (35), 42nd in slugging percentage (.466), 23rd in ERA (2.13), ninth in shut outs (16), and ninth in opponent batting average (.197).
Justyse Rodriguez leads the team in batting average (.362),
Madison Bunfill is OU's leader in RBI (39), and
Casson Rasmussen lead the Braves in ERA (1.86) and strike outs (122).
Amber Flummerfelt is three strike outs away from 100 for the season. If she hits that mark, it would be the first time in program history that the OU pitching staff had two pitcher strike out 100 or more opponents in a single season.
Casson Rasmussen has 122 in 2022 and finished 2021 with 168.
Ottawa had 11 players named to the All-KCAC teams.
Casson Rasmussen was named KCAC Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season and
Jay Kahnt, for the second straight year, was named KCAC Coach of the Year. It is the sixth time in his career that he has earned the honor. First Team:
Casson Rasmussen and
Allison Kearney. Second Team:
Amber Flummerfelt,
Jillian Kygar,
Cierra Faubion,
Aliks Serna, and
Justyse Rodriguez. Honorable Mention:
Hannah Copeland,
Madison Bunfill,
Riley Newbold, and
Kelcie Kippes. Gold Glove:
Allison Kearney and
Riley Newbold.
The Braves are 49-36 in the KCAC Tournament, winning the 2021 and 2010 championships. Ottawa has a record of 1-2 against Avila, 10-3 versus Bethany, 6-12 against Friends, 5-7 versus Kansas Wesleyan, 8-0 against McPherson, 2-2 versus Oklahoma Wesleyan, 3-3 against Southwestern, 3-3 versus Sterling, 6-4 against Tabor, and 5-0 versus University of Saint Mary in the KCAC Tournament.
OU is 41-12 against the University of Saint Mary, sweeping the Spires 6-3, and 4-0 on April 9 in Leavenworth. Ottawa is on a 14 game winning streak against the Spires. The last loss to USM was on March 24, 2015 in Ottawa. Saint Mary won the game in six innings, 18-10. The last time OU and USM played each other in the KCAC Tournament was on May 4, 2016. Ottawa won the game 4-3.
University of Saint Mary is 18-24 overall and finished eighth in the KCAC with a mark of 11-13. USM is on a two game losing streak after finishing the regular season with two losses against Avila on April 26, 3-0 in game one and 2-0 in game two.
Through 42 games, the Spires have scored 161 runs and hit 19 home runs. USM has a .272 batting average, a .325 on base percentage, and a .395 slugging percentage.
USM is ranked 35th in the NAIA in triples (14) and 51st in sacrifice flies (13).
Sadie McWilliams leads Saint Mary in batting average (.341), Madisyn Thompson is the team's leader in RBI (24), Shelby Mohler lead USM in ERA (2.12), and Maria Howard is the Spires' leader in strike outs (96).
