OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University opened softball season with 13-4 and 4-1 wins over Mid-America Christian on Thursday at Allen Field.

The Stars, ranked third in the NAIA, combined for 26 hits in the doubleheader. OCU went to 2-0 overall and in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

In the first game, Nathalie Timmermans went 4-for-5 with five RBIs, while Amanda Howard went 2-for-3 with four runs driven in. Both Howard, a senior from Strathmore, Alberta, Canada, and Timmermans, a sophomore from Oldenzaal, Netherlands, pounded a home run.

Laurin Hess and Ashley Wilburn each went 2-for-5 for the Stars. Shari Misuraca went 2-for-4, and Lily LaVelle was 2-for-3 and scored twice.

Howard's two-run shot over the left-field fence scored the first runs of the game in the third inning. Hess added an RBI single in the inning.

Alicia Clifton broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth by reaching home plate on a double steal. Autumn Mayberry brought in another run on a base hit.

In the seventh, OCU broke through for six runs. Misuraca nailed an RBI single, then Howard had a two-run base hit. Timmermans cranked a three-run blast to right to finish OCU's scoring.

Wilburn, a senior from Gilmer, Texas, earned the win by throwing a complete game with six strikeouts.

In the second game, Hess, a senior from Edmond, Okla., went 4-for-4 with two RBIs. LeeAnn Lopez was 1-for-2 with an RBI, and Wilburn was 1-for-3 with a run driven in.

LaVelle (1-0) rang up 10 strikeouts while allowing a run on five hits in seven innings.

In the fifth, Lopez brought in a run on a squeeze-play bunt. Wilburn added an RBI double off the left-field wall.

The Stars are scheduled to face Briar Cliff (Iowa) in a 2 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday at Ann Lacy Stadium.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore