Softball 4/30/2019 4:29:00 PM

Stars hold SAC Tournament

OCU strives for its third consecutive league tournament title

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University meets Langston at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Sooner Athletic Conference softball tournament at Ann Lacy Stadium.
Second seed Oklahoma City, ranked third in the NAIA, takes on Panhandle State at 7 p.m. before finishing up pool play against Mid-America Christian at 3 p.m. Friday.
The tournament championship game will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Ann Lacy Stadium between the pool-play winners. OCU and USAO host pools Thursday and Friday at Ann Lacy Stadium and Bill Smith Ballpark in Chickasha, Okla.
Oklahoma City (48-6) features Jaci Smith, who has been one of the dominant offensive producers in college softball. Smith, a senior catcher from Godley, Texas, broke the NAIA single-season record with 107 RBIs on a two-run home run Friday at Mid-America Christian. Smith increased her NAIA single-season mark for runs scored to 102. Smith pounded her NAIA-best 26th homer of 2019. Smith also paces the NAIA this year 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 boasts of a .511 batting average and 33 stolen bases.
Defending national champion USAO had been No. 1, while Oklahoma City held the No. 2 spot in the national ratings for three consecutive polls. OCU began the season as the top-ranked team with USAO at No. 2.
USAO prevailed over the Stars in a matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2 to end its regular season 1-0 and 10-3 on April 19 at Ann Lacy Stadium. The Drovers ran their winning streak to 56 consecutive contests dating back to last season to set a college softball record.
The Drovers' Emily Cerny, a sophomore pitcher from Newcastle, Okla., tops the NAIA in earned run average (0.32) and fewest runs (seven) and least earned runs allowed (six). Cerny owns a 21-0 mark, 13 whitewashes and 220 strikeouts in 130.2 innings.
On May 5, 2018, Oklahoma City knocked off USAO 3-1 for the SAC Tournament crown at Ann Lacy Stadium. OCU has 18 SAC Tournament championships, including the past two. That matchup accounted for the Drovers' last loss. Abby Meador of the Stars struck out the last batter with the bases loaded.
Tickets to the tournament at OCU cost $7 for adults and $5 for students. Live stats and video will be available for the tournament games. Watch the games live for $8.95 per game or with a $17.95 tournament pass for games at Ann Lacy Stadium. Justin Tinder will call the action.

Sooner Athletic Conference Softball Tournament
At Oklahoma City
Ann Lacy Stadium
Thursday's Games
No. 3 Mid-America Christian (30-16) vs. No. 6 Panhandle State (29-19), 1 p.m.
No. 7 Langston (18-31) at No. 2 Oklahoma City (48-6), 3 p.m.
Langston vs. Mid-America Christian, 5 p.m.
Panhandle State at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.
Friday's Games
Langston vs. Panhandle State, 1 p.m.
Mid-America Christian at Oklahoma City, 3 p.m.
At Chickasha, Okla.
Bill Smith Ballpark
Thursday's Games
No. 4 Southwestern Assemblies of God (26-24) vs. No. 5 Texas Wesleyan (23-27), 1 p.m.
No. 8 Southwestern Christian (14-34) at No. 1 USAO (49-0), 3 p.m.
Southwestern Christian vs. Southwestern Assemblies of God, 5 p.m.
Texas Wesleyan at USAO, 7 p.m.
Friday's Games
Southwestern Christian vs. Texas Wesleyan, 1 p.m.
Southwestern Assemblies of God at USAO, 3 p.m.
Saturday's Game
At Oklahoma City
Ann Lacy Stadium
Championship
Pool-play winners, 2 p.m.

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