OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University advanced in the Sooner Athletic Conference softball tournament with a 2-0 win over Southern Nazarene and a 4-1 win over St. Gregory's on Friday at Hall of Fame Stadium.
The Stars, ranked sixth in NAIA softball, no-hit Southern Nazarene and knocked off eighth-ranked St. Gregory's. OCU (47-7) increased its team NAIA single-season home run total to 93.
OCU faces Oklahoma Baptist at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hall of Fame Stadium. The Stars broke the national team single-season homer record Saturday, April 25 against Northwestern Oklahoma State at Ann Lacy Stadium. Erin Slettvet homered to left in the first inning to surpass the previous record of 87 hit by OCU's 1995 squad.
Against St. Gregory's, Slettvet sparked OCU by pounding a three-run homer over the fence in right-center field in the third inning.
The Stars added another run when Melissa Moore and Amanda Howard pulled the double steal. Moore took second, and on the catcher's throw, Howard scored.
Ashley Wilburn (21-3) and Lily LaVelle combined to allow a hit and a walk against St. Gregory's. Wilburn, a junior from Gilmer, Texas, limited St. Gregory's to Kyra Hart's double leading off the bottom of the fifth and struck out five. LaVelle fanned five in two innings for her first save.
Howard, a junior from Strathmore, Alberta, Canada, went 2-for-3 and scored twice. Mindy Crabaugh was 2-for-3 and scored ahead of Slettvet's homer.
Against Southern Nazarene, Slettvet and Moore hit back-to-back homers in the top of the sixth to provide the difference for the Stars.
LaVelle and Wilburn combined on the no-hitter. LaVelle (22-4) struck out eight in five innings, and Wilburn threw the final two innings and had two strikeouts. OCU allowed two runners to reach second base. Wilburn stranded two runners in the sixth and picked up her fourth save of the year.
Slettvet went 2-for-2, while Moore was 2-for-3.
OCU-SNU Boxscore
OCU-SGU Boxscore
Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament
At Oklahoma City
Hall of Fame Stadium
Friday's Results
Game 1: Southern Nazarene 6, Mid-America Christian 0
Game 2: Oklahoma Baptist 6, Northwestern 1
Game 3: St. Gregory's 6, USAO 0
Game 4: Rogers State 6, Oklahoma Christian 0
Game 5: Oklahoma City 2, Southern Nazarene 0
Game 6: Oklahoma Baptist 3, Lubbock Christian 1
Game 7: Northwestern 7, USAO 4
Game 8: Oklahoma Christian 7, Mid-America Christian 0
Game 9: Northwestern 1, Southern Nazarene 0
Game 10: Lubbock Christian 6, Oklahoma Christian 2
Game 11: Oklahoma City 4, St. Gregory's 1
Game 12: Oklahoma Baptist 9, Rogers State 6
Saturday's Games
Game 13: Lubbock Christian vs. St. Gregory's, 1 p.m., field 2
Game 14: Northwestern vs. Rogers State, 1 p.m., field 3
Game 15: Oklahoma Baptist vs. Oklahoma City, 1 p.m., stadium
Game 16: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, 5 p.m., stadium
Game 17: Winner Game 16 vs. Loser Game 16, 7 p.m., stadium
Sunday's Games
Game 18: Winner Game 15 vs. Winner Game 17, 2 p.m., stadium, championship
Game 19: Winner Game 18 vs. Loser Game 18, 4 p.m., field 4, if necessary
