OKLAHOMA CITY – Jaci Smith turned in a record-setting performance as Oklahoma City University racked up 2-0 and 10-0 victories over Mid-America Christian on Friday at Jack Allen Field.
Smith, a senior from Godley, Texas, surpassed the NAIA softball single-season record for RBIs with three runs driven in during the second game of the twin bill. The Stars, ranked third in the NAIA, went to 48-6, 30-4 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
Smith broke the mark by bashing a two-run home run beyond the right-center field fence with two outs in the top of the third inning. Smith increased her season total to 107 RBIs, moving past the 106 Kim Frazier from Lubbock Christian (Texas) piled up in 2010.
Smith continues to be one of the most productive hitters in college softball this year. She extended her NAIA single-season runs scored number to 102. Smith swatted her NAIA-best 26th homer of 2019. Smith also leads the NAIA this season with 193 total bases, 0.48 homers a contest, 1.98 RBIs per game, 3.57 total bases a game and a 1.109 slugging percentage. She has a .511 batting average with 33 stolen bases.
Smith also drove in a run with a base hit to right-center in the second inning of the second game.
OCU prevailed 2-0 in the early game. The Stars scraped across their first run as Baileigh Loux laid down a squeeze bunt to help Kennedy Jackson reach home plate from third base in the third inning. In the fourth, Julianne Abeloe scored on an error.
Jaden Shores and Kylie Dodson teamed on a shutout. Shores, a junior from Blanchard, Okla., went the first 6.1 innings and struck out two while allowing five hits and three walks. Shores improved her record to 24-4.
Dodson, a freshman from Mustang, Okla., fanned Jessica Holt on a called third strike with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. Dodson secured her fourth save of the year as she got the last out.
Gaby Zucchiatti, a junior from Millbrae, Calif., went 3-for-3 with a double and a triple, while Brittany Perez, a senior from Ventura, Calif., had a 2-for-3 performance for OCU.
In the next game, Shelby Riggs' two-run single sparked a five-run second inning for the Stars. Perez nailed a base hit to left to put OCU on top 5-0.
Riggs crushed a solo blast over the left-center field wall with two out in the third to provide Oklahoma City a 6-0 advantage.
Zucchiatti plated a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. The Stars went ahead 10-0 when Morgan McCallum drew a walk with the bases full in the fifth.
Dodson picked up the win, going to 24-2. Dodson blanked Mid-America on four hits and a walk in five innings. She recorded three strikeouts.
Smith was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three runs driven in, and McCallum, a junior from Mesquite, Texas, had a 2-for-2 game with a run scored and run knocked in.
Riggs, a redshirt freshman from Binger, Okla., went 2-for-2, scored three runs with three RBIs, while Perez tallied a 2-for-4 showing with a run scored and RBI.
Oklahoma City meets Bacone in a 4 p.m. doubleheader Monday at Ann Lacy Stadium.