OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University exploded for a six-run inning in a 9-1 first-game win, then Ashley Wilburn drove in the winning run in a 1-0 second-game victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday at Ann Lacy Stadium.
Jenni Gaby notched her first win of the year in the first game, then Lily LaVelle picked up the second-game win with four innings of two-hit relief for the Stars. OCU, ranked third in NAIA softball, improved to 12-6, 9-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
In the first game, Laurin Hess went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs, while Katie Proffitt was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs driven in for OCU.
Autumn Mayberry was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. LaVelle went 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Amanda Howard was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in.
Gaby, a junior from Quitman, Texas, worked all five innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks. Gaby struck out three.
In the third, Hess broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run single. Hess stole home on a double steal, then Proffitt ran out a base hit to allow Shari Misuraca to score. Mayberry made it 7-1 with a two-run base hit.
Howard doubled to right, bringing in the run to finish the game in the fifth.
In the second game, Wilburn poked a base hit up the middle of the infield with the bases full to score LaVelle and end the game.
Wilburn threw the first four innings and struck out four. Wilburn, a senior from Gilmer, Texas, worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, inducing Stephanie Hines into a fly out to end the threat. Hess tracked down Hines' liner in the right-center gap.
LaVelle ended a pair of two-runners-on situations. LaVelle, a sophomore from Bridge Creek, Okla., fanned Kyrie McKee in the seventh to end one, then got Allison Widener to ground out to third base to finish off the top of the eighth.
Also in the eighth, OCU third baseman Jen Davis dove to snag Katie Thomas' popup in foul territory for the second out of the frame.
Wilburn went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Davis, Mayberry and Nathalie Timmermans each had hits for OCU.
The Stars take on USAO in a 2 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday in Chickasha, Okla.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
