DECATUR, Ala. – Oklahoma City University begins pursuit of its ninth national championship with a pool-play game against Bethel (Tenn.) on 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 14 in the NAIA softball championships at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex.
The Stars also take on Georgetown (Ky.) at 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 15 and Simon Fraser (British Columbia) at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16. The pool-play winners advance to bracket play on Monday, May 18 at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex.
Sixth-ranked OCU qualified for the national tournament by winning the rain-shortened Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament. The Stars (48-7) have an 11-game win streak. OCU broke the team NAIA single-season home run record with 93 this year, surpassing OCU's 1995 team total of 87.
Amanda Howard, a junior outfielder from Strathmore, Alberta, Canada, tops the Stars in batting average (.443), homers (25), runs scored (62), hits (82), doubles (16), triples (3), stolen bases (13), total bases (179), slugging percentage (.968) and on-base percentage (.490). Howard also leads the NAIA in homers and ranks second in total bases and slugging percentage. She was awarded Sooner Athletic Conference player of the year.
OCU's other all-SAC selections were senior second baseman Mindy Crabaugh, senior third baseman Melissa Moore, senior catcher Erin Slettvet, freshman of the year Lily LaVelle and junior pitcher Ashley Wilburn. Junior first baseman Jen Davis was honorable-mention all-SAC.
Eighth-ranked Bethel (50-6) was the Mid-Central College Conference champion, and Georgetown (34-12) advanced to the national tournament by winning the Mid-South Conference Tournament. Tenth-ranked Simon Fraser (18-12) earned an at-large bid. Simon Fraser has won three NAIA titles and finished as NAIA runner-up three times – beating OCU for the 1999 crown and losing the title game to OCU in 2001.
OCU has captured eight national softball championships, the most in the NAIA. OCU won in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2007.
To view the complete pool-play schedule, click here.
