DECATUR, Ala. – Oklahoma City University knocked off Minot State (N.D.) 4-1 to begin pool play in the NAIA softball championships at Wilson Morgan Complex.
The ninth-ranked Stars (41-11) put together a three-run fourth inning. OCU meets Madonna (Mich.) at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the Stars' second contest of the three-game round of pool play. Games scheduled for Friday were postponed until Saturday due to rain.
In the fourth, LeeAnn Lopez socked an RBI single to left field to score Nathalie Timmermans from second base. Jen Davis then singled, putting runners at first and second. Kelby Roberson and Amanda Howard followed with RBI base hits.
OCU struck first in the second. Timmermans led the inning off with a single, then advanced to third on a balk and Ashley Wilburn's sacrifice hit. Timmermans scored when Laurin Hess hit a fly ball to center field for a sacrifice fly.
Timmermans, a sophomore from Oldenzaal, Netherlands, went 2-for-3 and scored twice, and Roberson, a freshman from Washington, Okla., went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Lopez, a freshman from Grand Prairie, Texas, was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Lily LaVelle struck out 15 in picking up the victory. LaVelle, a sophomore from Bridge Creek, Okla., allowed Tiffany Friesen's home run in the second among six hits and two walks in finishing the game.
LaVelle (21-4) stranded eight Minot State runners along the way. Minot State left two runners on base in the first, fourth and sixth. LaVelle struck out the side in the first, fanning Minot State leadoff hitter Janessa Penner before allowing two singles. LaVelle finished the first with strikeouts.
LaVelle also struck out the side in the fourth. Molly Lundeen started the inning with a base hit, then LaVelle fanned Kyla Thiesen. LaVelle walked Brittany Bartel, but struck out Melissa Elliott and Shannon Murray to get out of the jam.
In the sixth, Minot State got a hit by pitch and a base hit to put runners on first and second. Lundeen grounded into a forceout at second to put a runners on first and third with two out. LaVelle got Elliott to swing at strike three to get out of the inning.
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