OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University avenged a 3-1 loss by taking the nightcap of a doubleheader 9-0 against St. Gregory's on Tuesday at Ann Lacy Stadium in a clash of top 10-ranked teams in NAIA softball.

Lily LaVelle pounded a home run and shut out St. Gregory's on two hits to lead OCU to the second-game win. The third-ranked Stars went to 4-3, 3-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Tenth-ranked St. Gregory's fell to 5-3, 1-1 in the SAC.

LaVelle, a sophomore from Bridge Creek, Okla., went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while LeeAnn Lopez was 3-for-3 with a run scored. Amanda Howard went 3-for-3, and Autumn Mayberry was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two runs driven in.

In the circle, LaVelle struck out four in five innings. LaVelle set down the first six batters she faced. She finished having thrown 48 pitches.

OCU saddled St. Gregory's pitcher Sarah Bradley with nine runs on 12 hits and four walks in the second game. Bradley had held the Stars to one run on seven hits in the first game.

In the second inning, LaVelle hammered a triple off the left-field fence to drive in a run. Mayberry nailed a two-run double to the left-center field gap. Nathalie Timmermans poked a drive to right field for a sacrifice fly.

LaVelle led off the fourth with a homer over the left-field wall. Ashley Wilburn swatted a bases-clearing double to right-center with the bases full. Jen Davis launched a drive to the center-field wall for a sacrifice fly.

In the first game, LaVelle went 2-for-4, while Timmermans went 1-for-1 with an RBI.

Timmermans, a sophomore from Oldenzaal, Netherlands, knocked in OCU's run by pounding a triple off the center-field wall.

Wilburn posted eight strikeouts in seven innings, but took the loss.
OCU plays next in the Terri Mathis Zenner Memorial Tournament on Saturday and Sunday in Joplin, Mo. The Stars face Missouri Southern State at 9 a.m., Emporia State (Kan.) at 1 p.m. and Nebraska-Omaha at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore