The Mustang Broncos roll into a district matchup with the Edmond North Huskies (9-8, 7-4) tonight as one of the hottest teams in the state and still sit atop the 6A District 4 standings.
The Broncos have won 10 of their last 12 games dating back to an 8-2 win over Bixby on August 14. They recently split two games at the N.W. Oklahoma City Festival at Oklahoma Christian University, including an 8-6 win over Purcell.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. tonight at Edmond North High School. Check out some notes from Mustang’s last five games:
MUSTANG 8, PURCELL 6 (9/16/23)
The Broncos scored five runs in the third and fourth innings on route to an 8-6 win over the Class 4A District 4-leading Purcell Dragons (21-7, 11-1) on Saturday in the N.W. Oklahoma City Festival at Oklahoma Christian University.
Mustang jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning but fell into a 5-3 deficit entering the bottom of the third.
McNeese State-commit Arionna McElory (Sr.), who went 1-for-1 at the dish, started the rally with a leadoff walk. She moved to third after a single by Eden Anderson (Sr.) and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Reese Poage (So.), cutting Purcell’s lead to 5-4.
Lexi Kierstead (So.), who also went 1-for-1, kept the momentum rolling with a double to left field before a sacrifice fly by Pegram to tie the game at 5-5.
After allowing a run and surrendering the lead in the top of the fourth inning, the Broncos again sparked a comeback and eventually sealed the victory.
Rylee Hannon (Sr.) ignited the team’s second rally with a two-out single, followed by a base knock from McElroy. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Anderson and Poage gave Mustang an 8-6 lead, which turned out to be insurmountable for the Dragons.
Amelia Mason (Jr.), who allowed four earned runs on seven hits and three walks, retired the side in order in the top of the fifth. The junior hurler finished with five strikeouts over five complete.
STILLWATER 5, MUSTANG 2 (9/16/23)
Mustang’s seven-game win streak came to an end in a 5-2 loss to the Stillwater Pioneers (13-11, 3-5) on Saturday in the N.W. Oklahoma City Festival at Oklahoma Christian University.
Reese Poage (So.) drives a pitch to the outfield during a game earlier this season at the Mustang Softball Complex. Poage and the Broncos reeled off seven straight wins before falling to Stillwater in the N.W. Oklahoma City Festival at Oklahoma Christian University. (Photo by Ron Lane / Lane Images)
The Broncos scored two runs on five hits and five walks, but it wasn’t enough as the Stillwater’s three-run first inning held up the rest of the game.
Hannon, Anderson, Kierstead, and Abigail Keele (So.) each produced extra-base hits in the loss, including doubles by Keele, Kierstead, and Anderson and a triple by Hannon. Sessions also went 1-for-2 with a stolen base.
Hall suffered the loss with Taylor Acosta (Fr.) coming on in relief to record the final three outs. Hall allowed four earned runs on six hits and three walks. She struck out two batters across four innings.
Mustang tried rallying in the fifth inning, scoring one run on a walk to Kierstead after loading the bases with free passes to Hannon, Anderson, and Poage. However, two strikeouts cut the comeback short.
MUSTANG 9, BIXBY 2 (9/13/23)
The Broncos returned to district action with a 9-2 blowout road win over Bixby (11-8, 5-3) last Wednesday, completing the season sweep over the Spartans.
Mustang’s offense exploded with 14 hits, including six extra-base hits, and every player reached base in the game.
McElroy, Anderson, Poage, and Kierstead combined for 10 hits, including two doubles, a triple, and a homerun.
McElroy went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, an RBI, and three runs scored. Anderson went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in the second inning. Poage went 2-for-4 with a run and Kierstead went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
Madeline Rush (Jr.) got in on the action with a solo homer in the sixth inning. Hannon, who finished with a triple, Emerson Pegram (Sr.), and Shaye Rowe (Sr.) all finished with one hit while Sessions reached base on a walk and recorded two RBI.
Mason recorded the win from the circle, allowing just two unearned runs on three hits and two walks. She struck out six Spartans over seven innings of work.
MUSTANG 6, CHOCTAW 4 (9/8/23)
The Broncos (12-6, 7-0) scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning to cap a 6-4 non-district win over the host Choctaw Yellowjackets (15-9, 6-4) at the Choctaw Festival on Sept. 8.
Mustang trailed 3-1 entering the fifth inning, but the team stayed patient as they racked up three hits and four walks to take the lead.
Rylee Hannon (Sr.) makes contact with a pitch during a game earlier this season at the Mustang Softball Complex. Hannon and the Broncos sit atop the Class 6A District 4 standings at 7-0 in district play. (Photo by Ron Lane / Lane Images)
McElroy started the rally with a leadoff single before two straight walks to Anderson and Poage to load the bases. Kierstead, who went 2-for-3, cut the lead to one run with a single in the next at-bat, followed by an RBI-knock by Sessions to tie the game at 3-3.
With the bases still loaded, Pegram gave the Broncos the lead with a six-pitch walk, battling out of a full count to score pinch-runner Natalia Delgado (Jr.). Jade Ashbaugh (Fr.) followed with a bases-loaded walk of her own, scoring Kierstead to extend the lead to 5-3.
Hannon made it a 6-3 advantage with a one-out fielder’s choice to the shortstop, scoring Sessions for the team’s final run.
The Yellowjackets tried battling back, scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth. However, Mason was able to preserve the win.
Mason allowed just two earned runs on five hits with no walks in the game. She struck out four batters and after allowing Choctaw’s final run in the fifth, retired three straight batters to cap the win.
MUSTANG 9, SKIATOOK 1 (9/8/23)
Mustang capped the Choctaw Festival with a 9-1 win over the Class 4A Skiatook Bulldogs (13-13, 9-2) on Sept. 8, marking the team’s sixth straight victory.
Starting pitcher Aubree Hall (Jr.) was dominant, allowing just one unearned run on two hits and three walks over five innings. She struck out three batters and needed just 77 pitches to lock up the win.
The team’s offense had Hall’s back, scoring nine runs on 11 hits with just one error in the field. The Broncos scored four runs in the third inning before plating five across the fourth and fifth.
McElroy, Hannon, and Poage all produced multi-hit performances, including a three-hit performance by McElroy. The senior catcher finished with two doubles, three RBI, and one run scored.
Hannon went 2-for-3 from the top of the lineup, scoring two runs with an RBI while Poage went 2-for-3 with one run scored and a triple. Kierstead, Pegram, Sessions, and Shelby Bolden (Sr.) all finished with one hit, including a triple by Kierstead and a double by Sessions.
