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DOOR CLOSED: OKWU softball and baseball teams left out of regionals

mike tupa, bartlesville examiner-enterprise
·4 min read
Oklahoma Wesleyan University softball catcher Baylee Knorr watches a foul ball soar backward during 2023 season action.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University softball catcher Baylee Knorr watches a foul ball soar backward during 2023 season action.
Lexi Hannah is on the move around second base for Oklahoma Wesleyan University during 2023 softball season action.
Lexi Hannah is on the move around second base for Oklahoma Wesleyan University during 2023 softball season action.

Oklahoma Wesleyan University diamond teams earned the respect of their opponents — and overwhelmingly so — but didn’t garner enough love from the NAIA Baseball /Softball National Selection committees.

Neither the Eagle baseball team or the Lady Eagle softball team received an at-large berth for next week’s NAIA regionals.

This is the first time in 12 seasons the OKWU baseball team has missed the regionals in back-to-back seasons.

The school’s softball team appeared to have strong credentials to receive serious at-large consideration. But, when the 40-team field came out, OKWU wasn’t on the party list.

The same for the Eagle baseball team, which finished the season on a strong run to the semifinals of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference tourney.

Following are more details.

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OKWU BASEBALL

The Eagles (38-16) blitzed to a 29-7 record through early April. During that time had rocketed to No. 11 in the national NAIA baseball poll.

But, a season-ending injury to the team’s pitching ace began a reversal of fortune.

An extremely rare four-game losing streak proved to be harbinger of tough times to come.

They struggled during a rugged 10-game stretch to a 3-7 record from the first week to the third week in April.

But, OKWU then made a stark turnaround to end the season with a 6-2 record.

However, they had already fallen to fifth place in the final conference standings and out of the Top 25.

OKWU made a strong thrust in the KCAC postseason tourney, beating Ottawa (Kan.) and Kansas Wesleyan in the first two rounds. But, then they saw their season wind down with losses to McPherson (Kan.) and Kansas Wesleyan.

When looked at on balance, the Eagles’ positives far outweighed everything else.

Veteran head Kirk Kelley guided the team to its 12th 30-plus win season in the last 13 years. The only exception was 2020, when the season was suspended because of the virus-related spring sports shutdown nationwide.

As mentioned, the Eagles also ascended to the No. 11 spot in the nation. OKWU proved nearly unbeatable at home (27-4), recorded a team .357 batting average and blasted 78 homers.

Before he got injured, OKWU pitcher Kellen Brothers had fashioned a 6-0 record and stingy 0.91 earned run average. He walked only 10 batters and struck our 53 in 49.1 innings of work.

Matthew Atencio finished with a 7-1 record and 3.97 ERA in 65.2 innings.

OKWU’s only hope to play in the regionals would have been as one of the 14 at-large invitees.

But, the selection committee didn’t name any KCAC schools to its at-large list.

Two KCAC teams — Kansas Wesleyan University and McPherson (Kan.) — both earned automatic qualification.

A more detailed season wrap-up for OKWU baseball is planned later.

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OKWU SOFTBALL

The Lady Eagles had perhaps a more compelling argument than the baseball squad about being left out of the regionals.

Of the 40 teams in the softball regionals, OKWU boasted a better record than 23 of the them.

What’s more, the Lady Eagles (39-12) beat Science & Arts of Oklahoma, 8-6 during the season — Science & Arts punched its regional ticket as an automatic qualifier and is seeded No. 1 in its regional.

The Lady Eagles lost two close decisions to Oklahoma City, another regional No. 1 seed, 9-7 and 2-0.

OKWU split with Ottawa (Kan.) — losing 8-4 and winning 3-2 — which is a No. 2 seed.

For whatever reason, despite owning one of the nation’s best 25 records, OKWU could never gain any traction among voters for the bi-weekly Top 25 polls.

The Lady Eagles never came close to climbing into the poll, although they received a smattering of votes — three, to be exact in the final regular season poll, while the No. 25 team garnered more than 90 votes.

But, al that aside, OKWU still assembled an outstanding season, finishing just one win shy of 40 and challenging for both the regular season and postseason tournament conference crowns.

A follow-up with more details is planned next week.

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COMPARATIVE RECORDS

OKWU softball boasted a higher winning percentage than 23 of 40 teams selected for the NAIA regionals, including five of the eight at-large choices.

OKWU record: 39-12 .765

Teams that made the regionals

  • .761: Reinhardt (35-11, automatic)

  • .754: Indiana Wesleyan (40-13, at-large)

  • .750: Science & Arts (39-13, automatic)

  • .750: Midland (36-12, automatic)

  • .750: Madonna (36-12, automatic)

  • .745: Mobile (38-13, at-large)

  • .739: Saint Xavier (34-12, automatic)

  • .736: Hope International (39-14, at-large)

  • .725: Embry-Riddle (37-14, automatic)

  • .720: Saint Mary of the Woods (36-14, automatic)

  • .673: Southeastern (Fla.) (33-16, at-large)

  • .667: Campbellsville (31-15-2 .667, automatic)

  • .660: Indiana Southeast (33-17, automatic)

  • .658: Freed-Hardeman (25-13, at-large)

  • .643: Tennessee Wesleyan (27-15, automatic)

  • .642: Cottey: (34-19, automatic)

  • .641: Avila (39-14, automatic)

  • .588: Texas A&M-San Antonio (30-21, automatic)

  • .585: Columbia (24-17, automatic)

  • .571: Valley City State (28-21, automatic)

  • .481: Vanguard (26-28, automatic)

  • .464: Taylor (tourney automatic)

  • .246: USC Beaufort (14-43, automatic)

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: DOOR CLOSED: OKWU softball and baseball teams left out of regionals