OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University fended off Cottey (Mo.) 6-5 on Saturday at Ann Lacy Stadium.
The Stars salvaged a split of the doubleheader after falling 8-5 to Cottey in the first game of the day. Oklahoma City, ranked No. 2 in NAIA softball, went to 25-2 on the year.
Shelbey Cornelson retired Elizabeth Thomas on a pop fly to shortstop Kennedy Jackson with two runners on to put away the OCU win. Cottey had the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run on first base. Cornelson moved to 14-1 on the season.
In the fourth inning, the Stars grabbed the lead with three runs. Amy Crabaugh put down a bunt to allow Brooklyn Mason to reach home plate. Jackson and Nicole Robinson scored on an error.
Crabaugh had an infield single that Mallory McCoy scored on to give the Stars a 6-4 sixth-inning lead.
Crabaugh, a junior from Edmond, Okla., turned in a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs, while Tiffany Paul, a redshirt freshman from Choctaw, Okla., went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored. Jackson, a senior from Moore, Okla., also went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
In the early game, OCU took its first home loss of the season. The Stars had taken wins in their first 12 home games of the season and lost for the first time at Ann Lacy Stadium since a 7-3 loss to Midland (Neb.) on May 18, 2021 in the NAIA Championship Opening Round.
Cottey finished the weekend with a split of four games against OCU and fourth-ranked Science & Arts on the road. Cottey won 1-0 against Science & Arts on Friday in the second game of their doubleheader in Chickasha, Okla.
Jackson sparked OCU with a leadoff triple over the left fielder Aariana Castillo's head. She scored the Stars' first run by beating shortstop Maya De Sota's throw home on a groundball. Duff doubled in a run, while Mason knocked in a run on a bunt hit.
Robinson got hit by pitch, and Jackson drew a walk with the bases loaded to put the Stars up 5-0 in the first.
Cottey plated five runs in the sixth to rally past OCU. Diona Perkins brought home two runs on a double to left, then Melina Bueno reached home on an error.
Oklahoma City returns to Sooner Athletic Conference play against Mid-America Christian in a 5 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday at Ann Lacy Stadium.
