DECATUR, Ala. – Oklahoma City University upended top-ranked California Baptist 2-0 in an NAIA Championships quarterfinal Monday night at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex.
Kelby Roberson, a freshman from Washington, Okla., drove in the game's only runs on a base hit to right field in the top of the seventh inning. The ninth-ranked Stars (43-12) play William Carey (Miss.) at noon Tuesday.
With two out in the seventh, Laurin Hess singled, then LeeAnn Lopez reached on an error for OCU. Jen Davis drew a walk to fill the bases. Roberson had a two-run single, then ended the inning by getting thrown out at second base.
Lily LaVelle worked a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh. Nicole Shoemaker lined out to Nathalie Timmermans at third base, then LaVelle struck out Sarah Hurlbut on a called third strike for California Baptist (61-3). Jordan Flora lined out to Roberson at shortstop to end the game.
LaVelle (22-4) twirled a one-hitter, allowing three walks and Caty Reeves' fourth-inning base hit. LaVelle, a sophomore from Bridge Creek, Okla., struck out nine.
OCU managed four hits off California Baptist hurler Tory Ferreira. Hess, Lopez, Roberson and Timmermans had the Stars' hits. Neither team had an extra-base hit.
Davis nailed a deep fly ball that Hurlbut came up with at the left-field fence to end the top of the second. Lopez had singled before Davis to put runners on first and third.
OCU suffered a loss 4-1 to Concordia (Calif.) in the Stars' final pool-play contest earlier Monday. OCU advanced to bracket play by virtue of its head-to-head win against Minot State (N.D.).
Eighth-ranked Concordia scored the game's first run in the second inning. Concordia's Courtney Fik reached home on Brieana Eckel's groundout.
Alexis Vernon nailed a three-run double in the third to put Concordia ahead 4-0.
Timmermans drove in the Stars' run in the fifth. LaVelle doubled, then Timmermans followed with a double to the right-center gap to bring in LaVelle.
Hess went 2-for-3, and Timmermans finished 1-for-2. Ashley Wilburn went 1-for-2.
OCU-Concordia Boxscore
OCU-CBU Boxscore
NAIA Championships
At Decatur, Ala.
Wilson Morgan Complex
Monday's Results
Oklahoma City 2, California Baptist 0
William Carey (Miss.) 8, Bethel (Ind.) 6, 8 inn.
Simon Fraser (British Columbia) 4, Belhaven (Miss.) 2
Shorter (Ga.) 3, Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) 1
Tuesday's Games
Game 5: Bethel vs. California Baptist, noon
Game 6: Belhaven vs. Trevecca Nazarene, noon
Game 7: Oklahoma City vs. William Carey, noon
Game 8: Shorter vs. Simon Fraser, noon
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 2:30 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 2:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:30 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday's Games
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11, 11 a.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 3 p.m.
