OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University prevailed 3-0, 7-1 over Oklahoma Baptist on Wednesday at Ann Lacy Stadium in a matchup of top 25-ranked teams in NAIA softball.
Brittany Caruthers hammered a grand slam, while Magean De Le Torre and Nathalie Timmermans also nailed home runs for the Stars. Tenth-ranked OCU improved to 35-10, 17-3 in the Sooner Athletic Conference, while No. 25 Oklahoma Baptist fell to 31-15, 17-7 in the SAC.
In the first game, Lily LaVelle notched her 14th shutout of year while allowing two hits, walking two and striking out 11 batters. LaVelle, a junior from Bridge Creek, Okla., moved to 21-6.
Oklahoma Baptist brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth inning. LaVelle retired Alison Tunnell on a groundout to third base to put runners on second and third. Theresa Garcia grounded out to the shortstop to end the threat.
The Stars bunted three times in a row to score their first run of the game in the second. LeeAnn Lopez got a hit, then De La Torre had a sacrifice to put runners on second and third. Kylee Rounsaville brought in the run on a bunt hit.
Caruthers added a sacrifice fly in the third, then Timmermans cranked a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall for her 14th homer of the year in the fifth.
Rounsaville, a freshman from Yukon, Okla., went 1-for-3 with an RBI for OCU. De La Torre, a sophomore from Plano, Texas, and Katie Proffitt, a junior from Tulsa, Okla., each were 1-for-2.
In the second game, Timmermans walked to load the bases in the fourth. Caruthers pounded a 1-0 pitch over the center-field wall to put OCU ahead 6-1. Chelsey Eddy socked an RBI base hit earlier in the inning for a five-run Stars frame.
Caruthers swatted a run-scoring single to right to put OCU on the scoreboard in the third. De La Torre crushed a solo blast over the scoreboard in left leading off the fifth for the final margin.
Caruthers, a sophomore from Waxahachie, Texas, went 2-for-3 with five RBIs, while Rounsaville was 2-for-3 with a run scored. OCU had 10 hits.
A.J. Woodward permitted one run on three hits and four walks while fanning four. Woodward, a junior from Menifee, Calif., improved to 13-4.
The Stars take on Oklahoma Baptist in a 2 p.m. doubleheader Thursday in Shawnee, Okla.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
