OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University fell twice to top-ranked USAO 1-0 and 10-3 on Friday in a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 at Ann Lacy Stadium.
The Stars, ranked No. 2 in NAIA softball, dropped game one 10 and in the second game fell 10-3. OCU moved to 44-6 overall and 26-4 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. USAO, ranked No.1 was powered by Randa Hatter to improve to 49-0, 35-0 SAC.
USAO has given Oklahoma City four of its five losses since this season.
In the first game, Jaden Shores threw a gem, to only be out done by Emily Cerny. In the fourth inning, Hatter connected on a 1-1 pitch driving it into the wind beyond the left field wall.
the Stars left seven runners stranded, and had the tying run at left at third base to end the game.
Shores, a junior from Blanchard, Okla., threw seven innings, allowed four hits, a run and struck out four.
Brittany Perez, a senior from Ventura, Calif., and Gaby Zucchiatti, a junior from Millbrae, Calif., collected all four hits for OCU with each going 2-for-3 on the day with a double. Kennedy Jackson, a sophomore from Moore, Okla., walked twice and stole a base for the Stars.
In the nightcap, the Drovers got on the board quick in the first, when Kristen Prieto singled home Karlie Velasco, then Hatter connected on her second home run of the day, this one a two-run home run to right center scoring Prieto. USAO added two more runs in second on an errant throw that sailed down into the right field corner to allow both runners to come around and score.
In the fourth, USAO received a two-run double by Destine Lookout knocking in Velasco and Dakota Clouse.
OCU got on the board in their half of the fourth when Julianne Abeloe drove in Baileigh Loux on a sacrifice fly to center field, then Zucchiatti singled through the right side driving in Perez and Bailey Whitmore singled to left scoring Morgan McCallum cutting the lead to 7-3.
The Drovers answered back in the sixth with three more runs.
Kylie Dodson was saddled with her second loss of the season. Dodson, a freshman from Mustang, Okla., started and went 1.1 innings allowing four runs, three earned on two hits and two walks. Shores came in to pitch the final 5.2 innings, surrendering 10 hits, six runs, four earned and striking out four.
Jackson and Whitmore, a senior from Oklahoma City, paced the Stars going 2-of-4, while Jaci Smith, Perez, McCallum, Zucchiatti and Shelby Riggs each collected a hit.
The Stars look to bounce back on Tuesday when they host Bacone (Okla.) for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. at Ann Lacy Stadium.