BETHANY, Okla. – Oklahoma City University used seventh-inning rallies in both games of its doubleheader with Southern Nazarene to escape with a 10-9 win in the first and 5-4 victory in the second contest at the Cypert Athletic Complex on Tuesday.
The Stars, ranked 10th in NAIA softball, went to 5-1 on the season, 2-0 in the Sooner Athletic Conference after the picking up the pair of wins over the conference foe Crimson Storm.
In the first game, Lily LaVelle led off the seventh with a home run to break and 8-8 tie and put the Stars up by one. LeeAnn Lopez brought in Tori Joyner to extend the OCU lead to 10-8 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Southern Nazarene attempted a rally and brought one run across the plate, but LaVelle struck out Katie Turner swinging to end the game.
The Stars batted around the order to come away with a four-run fifth inning to take a 7-5 lead. OCU added one more in the sixth when a Kylee Rounsaville single brought in Magean De La Torre. Southern Nazarene answered when Amy Madden pounded a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to knot the score.
Southern Nazarene had hot bats in the first inning to jump on the board early. The Crimson Storm started off of a two-run homer by Katie Hale and a solo shot by Madden.
Chelsey Eddy picked up the win and LaVelle was credited with the save for the Stars.
In the second game, LaVelle pitched a complete game for OCU to get the win. The Stars found themselves in a 4-2 deficit heading into the sixth inning before Nathalie Timmermans knocked in LaVelle and Katie Proffitt to tie the game.
In the seventh inning, a Joyner single brought in De La Torre for the eventual game-winning run. Southern Nazarene could not manufacture any late game offense as the Stars held on for the victory.
Combined, OCU had 24 hits and 15 runs in the two contests. LaVelle was 4-for-6 with two runs and four RBIs. De La Torre ended the day 4-for-8 with four runs. Proffitt was 3-for-7 with two runs and three RBIs in the two games. After a rough time at the plate in the first contest, Timmermans went 3-for-4 in the second and knocked in two batters.
The Stars play host to Oklahoma Baptist in a 2 p.m. doubleheader Thursday at Ann Lacy Stadium.
