OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University overcame a five-run deficit through four innings to defeat Southern Nazarene 8-7 and sweep a doubleheader on Thursday evening at Ann Lacy Stadium.
The Stars, ranked eighth in NAIA softball, trounced SNU 9-2 in game one of the twin bill. OCU improved to 34-10, 29-5 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
OCU rallied for seven runs in the final three innings of game two, capped when Alicia Clifton was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to account for the winning run. Clifton, a sophomore from Bethany, Okla., finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs in the game. Autumn Mayberry, a freshman from Mustang, Okla., was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored.
Trailing 7-6, OCU began the seventh inning when Nathalie Timmermans reached on an error by the SNU first baseman, who was unable to keep her foot on the bag on a throw from the shortstop. Ashley Wilburn followed with a single to left. With the bases loaded and one out, Jen Davis came through with a single to left that tied the game at 7-7. Clifton was then hit on the first pitch thrown by SNU pitcher Jordan Simmons to give the Stars the come-from-behind victory.
Clifton had a two-run home run to left field in the sixth inning that cut SNU's lead to 7-5. Later in the inning, Mayberry roped a solo shot to right field to make it a one-run lead for the Crimson Storm.
Mayberry had the big hit in the fifth inning on a single up the middle that brought home two runs as OCU cut into the lead at 6-3.
Wilburn, a senior from Gilmer, Texas, came on in relief of Jenni Gaby in the fourth inning to earn the victory. Wilburn (12-3) allowed three earned runs on five hits over four innings of work.
Gaby, a senior from Quitman, Texas, gave up three runs (one earned) on five hits in three innings to start the game.
In game one, the Stars hammered four homers to cruise to the victory. Clifton, Davis, Wilburn and Amanda Howard accounted for the long balls for OCU.
Clifton registered her first two hits of the season with a 2-for-3 performance in game one. Mayberry went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Lily LaVelle finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
LaVelle,a sophomore from Bridge Creek, Okla., scattered two runs on two hits over four frames in the circle to move to 17-3. She also walked four and struck out three batters.
Wilburn closed out the game with three scoreless innings.
OCU will close out the regular season with a doubleheader against Rogers State on Tuesday beginning at 5 p.m. at Ann Lacy Stadium.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
