Posted: May 03, 2026
ABILENE, Texas – Ozarks kept its season alive Sunday morning, defeating Centenary 3-1 in the opening elimination game of the 2026 SCAC Softball Tournament Championship at Edwards Field on the campus of McMurry University. Official Website | Bracket | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ozarks’ Isabella Hulsey crushed her team leading sixth home run of the season to right field to open the scoring, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead after two.
- Ozarks doubled their lead in the home half of the third after winning pitcher Bailee Cowell cracked and RBI single up the middle to plate Brilea Rofkahr. In the circle, Cowell didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning.
- Centenary pushed back in the top half of the fifth, stringing together three consecutive hits to start the inning, eventually Emma Crow drove in Jaeden Thrasher to cut the Eagle lead to 2-1.
- With no outs and runners on second and third, Cowell went to work, retiring three-straight batters to get out of a jam and keep a 2-1 lead for Ozarks going not the sixth.
- In the bottom half of the sixth, Ozarks plated a key insurance run as Hulsey scored her second run of the day, courtesy of a Sage Adams RBI single up the middle to hand Cowell a 3-1 lead going into the final frame.
- Cowell closed the door with a 1, 2, 3 inning finishing the game allowing just one run on five hits and striking out four to record her second win of the tournament.
UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS STANDOUTS
- Isabella Hulsey: 1-2, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored
- Brilea Rofkahr: 2-2, 1 run
- Sage Adams: 1-3, 1 RBI
- Bailee Cowell: 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Ks, 5 hits allowed, WP, 1-3, 1 run scored
CENTENARY COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Abigail Hodgson: 2-2, 1 BB
- Jaeden Thrasher: 1-3, 1 run scored
- Emma Crow: 1-3, 1 RBI
- Alexis Roach: 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 3 hits allowed
NOTABLES
- Ozarks is now 2-2 all-time in SCAC Tournament action, including 1-0 against Centenary.
- Cowell, now 2-1 in the SCAC Tournament, has pitched all 20.0 innings for the Eagles during the tournament.
- This is just the second SCAC Tournament in the last eight Centenary has not won at least one tournament contest.
- Ozarks improves to 23-20, while Centenary ends it season at 16-24.
UP NEXT
The Eagles advance to face the winner of game six between St. Thomas and McMurry later this afternoon in game eight a 5:30 PM CT. Meanwhile, the Ladies are eliminated with the loss.
