OKLAHOMA CITY – Lily LaVelle notched a perfect game as Oklahoma City University hammered Mid-America Christian 10-0 and 12-2 on Tuesday at Ann Lacy Stadium.
LaVelle, a junior from Bridge Creek, Okla., has not allowed a hit through 14 innings in her last three appearances. The Stars, ranked eighth in NAIA softball, moved to 28-7, 14-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
There are 17 previous recorded instances of perfect games in NAIA softball history. Julie Harvey became the last Star to perform the feat against Southwestern (Kan.) on March 23, 2007 at Hall of Fame Stadium. USAO's Neesha Sorrell had a perfect game vs. Bacone on Thursday in Chickasha, Okla.
In her career, LaVelle has recorded six no-hitters for OCU. LaVelle combined on another no-hitter. She twirled a no-no in a 12-0 victory over Oklahoma Wesleyan on Thursday in Bartlesville, Okla.
Tuesday, LaVelle struck out 10 Mid-America Christian batters in a five-inning performance. She fanned six in a row from the first to the third innings. LaVelle struck out the side in the second before doing the same in the fifth to finish the game.
LaVelle retired the other five Mid-America batters via two groundouts, two flyouts and a lineout. LaVelle improved to 17-4 with her 11th shutout and 18th complete game in 25 starts this year.
In the bottom of the first, LaVelle gave herself the run she would need by cranking a home run over the left-center field wall to lead off for the Stars. LeeAnn Lopez pounded a two-run blast over the left-field wall.
In the fourth, Nathalie Timmermans and Lopez each nailed RBI doubles, while De La Torre had a run-scoring single. OCU used another error to go ahead 10-0.
Lopez, a sophomore from Grand Prairie, Texas, went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs, while De La Torre, a sophomore from Plano, Texas, was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
LaVelle went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an run driven in, and Timmermans, a junior from Oldenzaal, Netherlands, was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
In the second game, Timmermans cranked a three-run homer, while Lopez and Brittany Caruthers each belted two-run shots.
Timmermans went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and five RBIs, and Caruthers, a sophomore from Waxahachie, Texas, was 3-for-3, scored twice and drove in three runs. LaVelle went 2-for-2 and scored twice, and Lopez was 2-for-2 with a run and three RBIs. Tori Joyner, a sophomore from Mustang, Okla., scored three times while going 1-for-3 with an RBI.
A.J. Woodward, a junior from Menifee, Calif., picked up the win to go to 10-3. She struck out five in five innings.
