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Oklahoma City University Athletics

Oklahoma City University
Home Of Champions|73 National Championships
2018 NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round

Softball

OCU holds NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round

Second-ranked Stars square off with Eastern Oregon at 1 p.m. May 14

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two-time defending national champion Oklahoma City University looks to secure an NAIA Softball World Series berth in the NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket starting Monday at Ann Lacy Stadium.
The second-ranked Stars, 16th-ranked Grand View (Iowa), Tabor (Kan.) and Eastern Oregon comprise the field for the double-elimination tournament. The championship game will be 11 a.m. May 16 with an if-necessary game set for 1 p.m. that day.
Grand View meets Tabor at 11 a.m., with OCU facing Eastern Oregon at 1 p.m. May 14. Tickets during the tournament cost $10 for adults and $7 for students 18 and under. The Oklahoma City Bracket games will be available on live video stream for $8.95 per game and $19.95 for a tournament pass.
Nine all-Sooner Athletic Conference performers lead Oklahoma City (48-7) into the NAIA Championship Opening Round, which the Stars host for the sixth consecutive year. OCU's Abby Meador became a four-time all-conference choice, while Kennedy Jackson took SAC freshman of the year.
Meador, a senior from Midwest City, Okla., has posted a 12-1 record, 0.55 earned run average and 139 strikeouts in 89.2 innings and a .288 average, one home run and 26 RBIs. Meador leads the NAIA in ERA, fewest hits allowed (29), fewest runs allowed (10), fewest earned runs allowed (seven), opponents' batting average (.098) and average hits allowed (2.26). Jackson, a freshman from Moore, Okla., has produced a .461 average, 21 RBIs and 36 stolen bases while leading the NAIA with 63 runs scored this year.
The Stars swept the SAC regular-season and tournament championships. OCU tops the NAIA with a 1.12 team ERA and rank second in opponents' batting average (.153). Phil McSpadden has directed Oklahoma City to a 1,661-374 record in 31 years to lead college softball in victories vs. four-year competition. OCU has won national titles in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2016 and 2017.
Claudia Ferrell boosts Grand View with her 28-3 record, 0.88 ERA, nine shutouts and 258 strikeouts in 198.2 innings pitched this season. Ferrell, the four-time Heart of America Athletic Conference pitcher of the year, ranks second in the NAIA in wins and third in ERA. The Vikings (46-8) enter the NAIA Championship Opening Round as the Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champions.
Madison Byrd of Tabor picked up Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference pitcher of the year while going 19-7 with a 1.51 ERA, seven shutouts and 188 strikeouts in 180.1 innings. The Bluejays (29-19) collected the KCAC regular-season and tournament titles.
Hailey Kline has become Eastern Oregon's all-time career strikeout leader. Kline, a first-team all-Cascade Collegiate Conference selection, has supplied Eastern Oregon (26-22) with a 16-8 record, 1.87 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 164.1 innings. The Mountaineers reached the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament championship game.
 
NAIA Championship Opening Round
Oklahoma City Bracket
At Oklahoma City
Ann Lacy Stadium
All Times CDT
Monday, May 14
Game 1: Grand View (Iowa) vs. Tabor (Kan.), 11 a.m.
Game 2: Oklahoma City vs. Eastern Oregon, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, May 15
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 11 a.m.
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, May 16
Championship
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner 5, 11 a.m.
Game 7: If necessary, 1 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Abby Meador

#12 Abby Meador

P/OF
5' 7"
Senior
R/R
Kennedy Jackson

#1 Kennedy Jackson

INF
5' 1"
Freshman
L/R

Players Mentioned

Abby Meador

#12 Abby Meador

5' 7"
Senior
R/R
P/OF
Kennedy Jackson

#1 Kennedy Jackson

5' 1"
Freshman
L/R
INF