OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City Stars softball team punched its ticket to the NAIA World Series in Columbus, Ga. after an 11-1 rout over Ottawa (Kan.) on Wednesday afternoon at Ann Lacy Stadium.
Oklahoma City 11 - Ottawa (Kan.) 1
Oklahoma City plated at least one run in every inning of the contest including a three-run inning in the second and fourth frames.
Kamryn Garviie ignited the Stars offense in the top of the first with a two-out homer over the center field wall.
In the second, Tara Hoehner led off with a single up the middle before Amy Crabaugh reached base after being hit by a pitch. With two out and the runners having yet to move,
Rally Radacy became the second batter to be hit by a pitch which loaded the bases for Kaitlyn Jones. The Stars shortstop delivered a double down the left field line scoring two runs before Radacy ended up scoring the third run of the inning on a wild pitch to take a 4-0 lead.
Baileigh Loux started Oklahoma City off with a leadoff walk in the top of the third to which she advanced to second on a wild pitch and eventually came around to score on a second wild pitch where Loux advanced home from second on an excellent base running decision. Emersen Heron used a solo home run to finish off the inning for Oklahoma City.
The Stars added three more in the fourth highlighted by Loux launching the third home run of the game for OCU with a two-run blast to take a 9-0 advantage.
In their final at-bats, Oklahoma City plated two runs across to finish off its 11-run day with both runs coming off the bats of Jones and Loux.
Shelbey Cornelson struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth to punch the Stars ticket to Columbus for the NAIA World Series.
Kaitlyn Jones led the way with a three-hit day while notching a pair of doubles and three RBI. Wednesday's game was the fifth time this season Jones has driven in three or more runs and the ninth time she had slashed three hits or more.
Bailiegh Loux extended her hitting streak to six games after joining Jones as the two Stars to pick up multiple base hits. Loux smashed her 11th home run of the year while driving in two runs and scoring two times.
Senior Kamryn Garvie notched back-to-back games of scoring a run while knocking in at least one run for the third straight game. Garvie's one hit came as the Stars first run of the contest with her team-leading 15th home run of the year/
Emersen Heron snapped an 0-for-8 drought with her first home run since Apr. 12 which came in a 16-0 blowout win against Oklahoma Panhandle State. Heron's homer was her 13th of the season, second most on the team.
Tara Hoehner went 1-for-3 seeing her hitting streak move to four games in a row while picking up two stolen bases giving her a team-leading 24 stolen bags on the year.
Shelbey Cornelson tossed her final game at Ann Lacy Stadium on Wednesday where she finished the Opening Round throwing every inning for the Stars including all five in the run-rule over Ottawa. Cornelson improved to 25-3 after allowing one run on two hits to go along with six strikeouts. This was the 12th time this season Cornelson has allowed two hits or fewer and the 22nd time she has given up one run or less.
Oklahoma City closed out the 2024 season with a record of 28-0 at home as the Stars went unbeaten at Ann Lacy Stadium for the first time since 2017.
The Stars outscored opponents in the Opening Round 22-1 in three games.
Next Up
Oklahoma City will make its 32nd appearance in the NAIA World Series and its first since winning the title in 2022. Action will begin May 23 in the 10-team double-elimination tournament in Columbus, Ga.
