DECATUR, Ala. – Lily LaVelle hammered a grand slam over the left-field fence to rally Oklahoma City University past Madonna (Mich.) 6-4 on Saturday at Wilson Morgan Complex in the NAIA softball championships.

LaVelle, a sophomore from Bridge Creek, Okla., turned on an 0-2 pitch with two out in the top of the seventh inning. Ninth-ranked OCU (42-11) trailed 23rd-ranked Madonna 4-0 entering the seventh.

Ashley Wilburn retired Madonna in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure a 2-0 start in pool play for OCU. The Stars take on eighth-ranked Concordia (Calif.) at 2 p.m. Monday in the final of OCU's three pool-play games. OCU is the only unbeaten team in Pool H.

Kendall Hobens started the seventh inning with a bunt hit for the Stars. Laurin Hess reached on a hit by pitch, then LeeAnn Lopez singled to bring in Hobens. Kelby Roberson grounded out to score Hess and cut OCU's deficit to 4-2.

Amanda Howard got on via an error, then Autumn Mayberry walked to load the bases and set up LaVelle's heroics.

In the bottom of the seventh, Brittany Scero flied out to left, then Cat Sidor popped out to third base for Madonna. Ashley Shay flied out to Roberson at short to end the game.

Madonna put four runs on the scoreboard in the second inning. Hallie Minch had an RBI base hit, Erica Landess reached home on a passed ball and Sider had a two-run single.

Jess Irwin of Madonna retired the first seven OCU batters she faced. Jen Davis broke up the no-hitter in the third, but the Stars left two runners on in the inning.

Lopez, a redshirt freshman from Grand Prairie, Texas, went 1-for-3 with a run driven in, and Davis, a senior from Muscatine, Iowa, went 1-for-3. LaVelle's homer was her 12th of the year.

Wilburn, a senior from Gilmer, Texas, went to 15-3. She finished the game with 5.2 scoreless innings. Wilburn allowed three hits and three walks and struck out four.
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