— Muskogee’s defense and pitching shined brightly Friday as the Lady Roughers swept three pool play games in the Broken Arrow Tournament.

After an 11-3 win over Grove, the Lady Roughers beat Mustang 4-3 on a sacrifice fly in the seventh by Hannah Alexander, then Shaylee Rowland hit into a fielder’s choice to plate the only run in a 1-0 win over Choctaw.

Rowland held Mustang to four hits and was tagged for just one earned run, while Gann, who scattered five hits and struck out four against Grove, got her second win of the day scattering eight hits and striking out six against Choctaw.

“Shaylee and Paige both did a good job pitching,” Muskogee coach Keith Coleman said. “Offensively we didn’t swing as well the last two games but our pitching and defense were very solid.”

Rowland was 2-for-4 with three RBI against Grove, including a three-run home run that rallied MHS from a 2-1 deficit. It was her first this season. Paige Gann and Dede Emarthle also had two hits in the contest.

Gann was 2-for-3 against Mustang and Jessi Venable hit a two-run home run, her second.

MHS was outhit 8-5 in the finale with no multi-hit performances, but moved above .500 for the first time since winning the first game of a season-opening doubleheader against Ponca City Aug. 7.

Muskogee plays Claremore Sequoyah at 10:30 a.m. and Oologah at 2 to complete pool play.

Hilldale was 3-0 coming in but lost two of its three pool games. The Lady Hornets lost to Owasso 9-2 to begin the day, then rallied past Sand Springs in a tiebreaker, 8-7.  McKensie Plant hit a three-run walkoff home run after Destiny Riddle had driven in a run. Both of Plant’s homers this season have been game-enders. Riddle, pitching, had nine strikeouts and recovered from the Owasso loss in the process.

Earlier against Sand Springs, Toni McMillan, who had three hits, hit a solo home run, her first. Jessie Casey had two hits.

The Lady Hornets capped the day losing 8-5 to Edmond North. Riddle hit a solo home run and Katie Keifer hit a two-run shot, both firsts for the season. But Hilldale squandered a 5-3 lead with four in the sixth as Emily Dowdy took the loss.

Hilldale plays Bartlesville at 10:30 a.m. and Adair at 2 p.m. today.

Sequoyah and Haskell’s results weren’t available as of press time.