OKLAHOMA CITY - Day one of the NAIA Opening Round began on Monday as the Stars opened up play against Ottawa (Kan.) using a pair of three-run innings to earn a 6-0 win at Ann Lacy Stadium.
Oklahoma City Stars — 6
Ottawa Braves — 0
Game Summary
Oklahoma City needed just two of the seven frames to get the job done on Monday afternoon against Ottawa in game one of the Opening Round.
Prior to scoring in the fifth, Oklahoma City had totaled just two base runners on two hits as the contest remained scoreless through four.
As the visiting team, Oklahoma City mustered up a quick rally in the top of the fifth with the bottom third of their order as Amy Crabaugh drew a one-out walk with a double by Tiffany Paul to follow.
Next up was the OCU nine-hole hitter, freshman Iliana Ashford put the Stars on the board for the first time with a three-run shot over the left field wall to break the scoreless tie and hand Oklahoma City the momentum.
In the seventh, Oklahoma City was able to add a couple extra insurance runs as Crabaugh and Paul reached base once again however this time it was Rally Radacy and Kaitlyn Jones picking up a pair of RBI singles with Kamryn Garvie to follow as the senior brought in Radacy from third on a sacrifice fly to centerfield which missed being a home run by a matter of feet.
Shelbey Cornelson sat down the Braves in order in the bottom half of the seventh to secure the 6-0 win in the inaugural contest of Opening Round play.
Game Notes
Iliana Ashford highlighted the Stars day in game one of the Opening Round with the first home run of her career coming in the fifth inning as the freshman completed her day 1-for-2 with a run scored while tying for a season-high three-RBI.
Two Stars tallied multiple hits on the day with
Kaitlyn Jones going 2-for-4 with a run scored making it the 22nd time this season Jones has come away with two or more hits.
Tiffany Paul finished with a 2-for-3 game while coming across to score two times in the contest. Paul doubled for the first time since Apr. 19 making it her sixth of the year.
Baileigh Loux extended her hitting streak to four games with her 19th double of the season.
Rally Radacy scored for the 10th time in the last 12 games while driving in a run for the fifth time out of the last six.
Shelbey Cornelson got the ball to make the start inside the circle for Oklahoma City as the senior right-hander went the full seven innings to earn her 21st complete game of the year. Cornelson tossed her 12th shutout of the season while keeping Ottawa off the board allowing five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Next Up
Oklahoma City will pick up play in the winner's bracket on Tuesday at 1 p.m. against Houston-Victoria. The winner will advance to the championship game while the loser will play on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
