OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University looks for an NAIA Softball World Series berth in the NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket beginning Monday at Ann Lacy Stadium.
The second-ranked Stars, 15th-ranked Eastern Oregon, No. 22 Texas A&M Texarkana and William Woods (Mo.) compete for a World Series bid in a double-elimination tournament. The championship contest is set for Wednesday with first pitch at 11 a.m. and an if-necessary game set for 1 p.m. that day.
Oklahoma City (47-6) took the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament title for the 20th time. The Stars hold spots among the top five in the NAIA team statistics in batting average (.373, No. 3), hits (543, third), stolen bases (187, No. 4) and triples (28, fourth). OCU's Kennedy Jackson, a senior from Moore, Okla., ranks No. 2 among the NAIA in career steals (199), while Shelbey Cornelson, a junior from Tuttle, Okla., leads the NAIA with 30 wins this year.
Phil McSpadden boasts of a 1,836-399 record in his 35th year guiding OCU. McSpadden leads college softball in wins vs. four-year schools and trails only Arizona's Mike Candrea in overall wins. Candrea compiled 1,858 wins coaching Arizona and Central Arizona. Oklahoma City tops the NAIA with 10 national championships, six national runner-up showings, 32 World Series appearances, six Opening Round titles and 131 World Series wins.
Eastern Oregon became an at-large qualifier for the NAIA Championship Opening Round. Texas A&M Texarkana won the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament crown, and William Woods finished runner-up in the American Midwest Conference Tournament.
NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round
Oklahoma City Bracket
At Oklahoma City
Ann Lacy Stadium
All Times CDT
Monday, May 16
Game 1: No. 2 Eastern Oregon vs. No. 3 Texas A&M Texarkana, 11 a.m.
Game 2: No. 4 William Woods (Mo.) at No. 1 Oklahoma City, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, May 17
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: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, May 18
Championship
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 11 a.m.
Game 7: If necessary, 1 p.m.
