Chickasha, Okla. – The Friends University Falcons are set to make their fifth NAIA Opening Round appearance in the last eight years beginning on Monday (May 11) in Chickasha, Okla.
Below is a dive into both the Falcons and the opposing squads they'll face this week in the Chickasha Bracket.
Friends Falcons
The Falcons are the fifth seed in the Chickasha Bracket after finishing 31-20 and 17-9 in the KCAC during head coach Suzanne Unruh's eighth season at the helm.
Down to their last out of the season, the fifth-seeded Falcons proceeded to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh to upend second-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan University 2-1. That was their third victory of the day to clinch a national tournament berth as the KCAC postseason tournament runner-up.
The Falcons are powered by their four All-KCAC selections in first team performers Tamara Lozoya and Ezra Arredondo along with second-team honorees Jenna Ormiston and Cambell Riordan.
Lozoya anchored the Falcon lineup this season with a .426 batting average while slugging six home runs and driving home 37. She also posted a team-leading .497 on-base percentage and slugged.684.
In her first season with the program, Arredondo added punch to the Falcon lineup and hit .371 with 18 RBIs and a .472 on-base percentage.
Ormiston fueled the Falcon pitching staff and is tied for third in the KCAC in wins (15) and has a 3.07 ERA across 157.1 innings in the circle. She also leads the team in strikeouts (76) and opposing batting average (.261) this season. The Liberal, Kan. native was at her best down the stretch, holding the opposition to just one earned run or fewer in seven of her last nine appearances in the regular season, including a pair of shutouts and a no-hitter during that span.
Riordan made an immediate impact in her first season with the Falcons, ranking tied for fourth in the KCAC in home runs (nine) and hitting .397. The Wichita native also paced the team and was third in the league in RBIs (49) while the leading the Falcons in slugging percentage (.718) and total bases (112).
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) Drovers
The top-seeded and Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) regular season champion University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers are 47-9 overall and 33-3 in the SAC.
Aubree Ferguson has been the fuel for the Drovers in the circle this year, posting an NAIA-leading 0.62 ERA with a 24-2 record and 164 strikeouts. Opposing hitters are batting just .176 against Ferguson this season.
Three hitters are batting over .400 for the fourth-ranked Drovers this season, led by Malea McMurtrey's .481 batting average. Maddy Baber is hitting .462, while Leighanne Eaton is batting .403 with a team-high 11 home runs and 77 RBIs that rank fourth in the NAIA.
Louisiana State University of Alexandria Generals
The second-seeded and No. 15-ranked LSU Alexandria Generals won the Red River Athletic Conference with a 23-4 conference record along with a 34-16 overall mark.
Kilee Moody leads the Generals in hitting (.401) this season, with Katelyn Dunbar batting .400 with team-leading totals in homeruns (eight) and RBIs (54).
Lainee Bailey leads the General pitching staff in ERA (1.91), wins (17) and strikeouts (110).
College of Idaho Yotes
The (RV) College of Idaho Yotes are the third seed and are currently 34-20 overall, with a 13-12 record in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
Kina Watts leads the Yotes in hitting (.399), with Madelyn Powell supplying team-highs in homers (12) and RBIs (59).
Watts has also recorded a team-leading 2.50 ERA in 78.1 innings, while Drew Williams paces College of Idaho in wins (13) and strikeouts (75).
Morningside University Mustangs
The fourth-seeded Morningside University Mustangs, the Falcons' first opponent, are 30-18 overall and posted a 17-5 record in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).
The Mustangs are led in hitting by Paige Schuster (.449), with Mackenzi Harrel providing the power with team-highs of 11 home runs and 43 RBIs.
Adeline Fliege has led the pitching staff this season in wins (17), ERA (2.44) and strikeouts (110).
Below are links to follow the Falcons NAIA Opening Round game on Monday at noon vs. Morningside!
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