SOFTBALL: Sequoyah stays perfect with 3-win opening day at Nowata Tournament

Different opponents, same result. Sequoyah made quick work of Rogers County rival Chelsea, handled Bartlesville and then blanked Vinita, sweeping three games Friday on the opening day of the Nowata Tournament to keep its perfect start intact. The Lady Eagles improved to 5-0 on the season after beating Chelsea 8-0, Bartlesville 5-2 and Vinita 7-0. While Sequoyah received contributions throughout its lineup, its pitching was particularly dominant. Brooklynn Roper and Kaylee Bickel combined to allow only 4 hits across 14 innings Friday, and neither surrendered an earned run. Roper earned two victories and tossed 9 scoreless innings, while Bickel allowed 1 hit and 2 unearned runs in a complete-game victory over the Lady Bruins. Bickel also threw 2 hitless innings in relief against the Lady Green Dragons. SEQUOYAH 8, CHELSEA 0 Sequoyah didn't need a hit to begin building its lead against Chelsea. The Lady Eagles took advantage of miscues early, scored 7 runs over the first two innings and cruised to an 8-0 victory. Roper and Bickel combined on a 4-inning no-hitter. Roper worked the first two innings, striking out 1 and walking 2, before Bickel completed the shutout with a pair of hitless frames and 1 walk. Lady Green Dragons starter Callie Hoskins allowed 8 runs [2 earned] on 4 hits and 5 walks over 4 innings. She struck out 3. Riley Taylor provided Sequoyah's biggest production at the plate, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs, while Lexis Breshears also collected 2 hits. The Lady Eagles scored three times in the first inning with considerable help from Chelsea's defense. An error produced the first run, Roper drew a bases-loaded walk to force home another and a second error made it 3-0. Sequoyah continued applying pressure in the second. Two more Lady Green Dragon errors helped bring home runs before Taylor delivered a run-scoring single as the Lady Eagles pushed their advantage to 7-0. Breshears supplied the final run in the third, singling to center to make it 8-0. Sequoyah's defense was just as effective as its pitching, turning 2 double plays to help preserve the combined no-hitter. SEQUOYAH 5, BARTLESVILLE 2 Bickel didn't need much offensive support in Sequoyah's second game. The southpaw limited Bartlesville to 1 hit over 5 innings, striking out 5 without issuing a walk in the Lady Eagles' 5-2 victory. Both Lady Bruins runs were unearned. Kristen Holt went 2-for-2 and drove in a run, while Bickel helped her own cause with 2 hits. Sequoyah finished with 7 hits against Bartlesville starter Klhoe Cornsilk, who surrendered 5 runs [2 earned] and 3 walks in 5 innings. Once again, the Lady Eagles immediately put pressure on its opponent. A Lady Bruins error brought home Sequoyah’s first run in the top of the first before Brooklynne Ott singled down the right-field line to make it 2-0. After Bartlesville cut the deficit to 2-1, Sarah Eltalea's groundout in the second extended the Lady Eagles' advantage to 3-1. Sequoyah eventually added another 2 runs to build a 5-1 cushion before the Lady Bruins scored their second unearned run. SEQUOYAH 7, VINITA 0 Sequoyah finished Friday exactly how it started it, with a shutout. Roper scattered 3 hits across 5 scoreless innings and struck out 6 as the Lady Eagles rolled past Vinita 7-0. Aliya Munoz led the offense, finishing 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs, while Sequoyah's defense turned another 2 double plays. Roper walked 2 but otherwise kept the Lady Hornets in check, allowing singles to Adlie Speer, Jolee Doggett and CC Carter. Vinita stole 4bbases but couldn't convert any of them into runs. Lady Hornets starter Keiley Yazel surrendered 7 runs [3 earned] on 6 hits and 1 walk over 5 innings. For the third time in as many games Friday, the Lady Eagles scored in the opening inning. A Vinita error brought home the first run before Bickel drew a walk that forced in another, giving Sequoyah a 2-0 advantage. The Lady Eagles doubled their lead in the second when Peyton Breshears ripped an RBI double down the left-field line before Munoz singled down the right-field line to push the advantage to 4-0. Sequoyah added another 3 runs the rest of the way to complete the 7-0 victory. More importantly, Roper never allowed the Lady Hornets to answer.