OKLAHOMA CITY – Top ranked Oklahoma City University used a walk-off home run to beat USAO 4-1 in game one of Thursday's doubleheader, while cruising to an 8-0 victory in game two at Ann Lacy Stadium.
Jaci Smith, a freshman from Godley, Texas, hit a three-run homer that hit the top of the right-center field wall and bounced over in the bottom of the seventh inning to seal the game. In game two, OCU starter Abby Meador fanned nine batters and allowed one hit in a complete game shutout. Oklahoma City, ranked No. 1 in NAIA softball, improved to 54-1, 25-1 in Sooner Athletic Conference.
The Stars got on the scoreboard first in game one with a sacrifice fly by Stephanie Koishor that plated Laci Joyner.
OCU held the 1-0 advantage until the Lady Drovers tied the game in the top of the sixth inning on a sacrifice bunt that scored Kaylin Taylor from second base.
Samantha Stallbaumer and Koishor notched consecutive bunt singles to lead off the seventh inning, then the Lady Drovers recorded two outs. In the following at-bat, Smith hit the 3-1 pitch over the right-center field wall to end the game.
Smith finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run, while Stallbaumer went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run.
OCU starter Georgia Wall improved to 18-0 on a complete game, allowing two hits and striking out four batters. USAO starter Tate Landmark moved to 17-10.
In game two, the Stars put across four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kali Pugh smoked a leadoff home run over the center-field wall. Smith and Kyndra Holasek followed with back-to-back singles which forced Lady Drover starter Landmark out of the game. After a groundout that moved the runners over and a fly out, Laci Joyner launched a three-run homer over the left-field wall.
OCU added two runs in the fourth inning on RBI singles by Pugh and Smith to stretch the Stars advantage to 6-0.
Miller led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo blast over the left-field wall. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Pugh lined a singled to center field to put the Stars ahead 8-0.
Meador improved to 22-0 on five innings pitched, while Landmark picked up the loss to move to 17-11.
Pugh's went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run with her 15th of the season, while Miller's solo homer was her 14th. Smith finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
USAO dropped to 27-18, 16-10 in conference play.