OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University split a doubleheader with conference foe Lubbock Christian (Texas) in a battle of top-10 teams Tuesday at Ann Lacy Stadium.
The Stars, ranked 10th in NAIA softball, used a four-run fifth inning in the opening game to race to the 5-0 win over the fifth-ranked Lady Chaparrals. In the nightcap, Lubbock Christian was powered by a two-run fifth followed by 2.2 innings of no-hit softball thrown by reliever Amanda Longorio to pick up the 4-2 win and salvage the split.
OCU moves to 17-6, 5-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference after the pair of games. Lubbock Christian now sits at 26-5, 5-3.
OCU's Nathalie Timmermans came up big in the first game, going 2-for-3 from the plate and bringing in three runs. Timmermans, a junior from Oldenzaal, Netherlands, pounded her fourth home run of the season over the right-field fence in the first to give the Stars an early 1-0 advantage.
OCU added four more in the fifth after Lubbock Christian pitcher Carolin Hall found herself in trouble early in the inning. Hall hit two batters and gave up a single to load the bases. Timmermans roped a single down the left-field line to score two runs and force a relief pitcher to take the circle for the Lady Chaps.
After a walk was issued to Brittany Caruthers, Kylee Rounsaville added an RBI single to set the score at 4-0. The game scoring was capped off when Magean De La Torre reached on a fielding error that allowed Timmermans to cross the plate. A double-play ball allowed Lubbock Christian to escape the inning, but not before the damage was done.
Hurler Lily LaVelle tossed a two-hit complete game for the Stars to ensure the Lady Chaps had no scoring opportunities in the first contest. LaVelle, a junior from Bridge Creek, Okla., struck out nine batters, gave up one walk and threw 102 pitches in the stellar performance from the circle.
The nightcap saw the Stars jump on the board in the first inning again after OCU was the benefit of a fielding error in right that allowed Tori Joyner to cross the plate. Lubbock Christian took the lead in the top of the third after Kim Frazier punched an RBI single down the left field line that was followed by Melissa Harkop doing the same. OCU answered with a tying run in the third when Rounsaville poked an RBI double into right to bring in Joyner for her second run of the game.
The Lady Chaps were the beneficiary of a costly OCU error in the fifth to punch in two more runs and set the score at 4-2, the eventual final tally. Lubbock Christian pitching was stout in the closing innings and forced OCU to hit into double plays in the fifth and sixth with reliever Longorio in the circle. Longorio threw five pitches in the bottom of the seventh to retire the side and close with the win.
LaVelle took the loss in the nightcap, coming in to pitch four innings of relief after the earlier complete game. LaVelle surrendered three hits and two runs while striking out four in her second-game duties.
OCU is next in action as the team travels to Chickasha, Okla., to face USAO in a doubleheader Thursday that begins at 2 p.m.
