OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University opens its NAIA World Series appearance on Thursday with a sequel to the wildest game the team played this season, taking on Central Methodist at 6 p.m. (Central) in Columbus, Ga.
(Bracket | Live Video | Live Stats | Tickets)
The teams met in Shawnee in February with the Stars taking a 21-13 victory.
Tara Hoehner had five RBIs on two doubles while
Emersen Heron,
Tiffany Paul,
Iliana Ashford,
Analise Rayburn,
Rally Radacy and
Jessica Phares had three hits each. OCU out-hit CMU 22-10 but the Stars committed four errors and issued six walks.
A win on Thursday thrusts the Stars into a Saturday matchup against No. 1 Cumberlands, No. 8 Grand View or No. 9 Midlands. The latter two are coming off Opening Round wins as visitors. Grand View upset USAO in Chickasha while Midlands knocked off Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls, Ore. The loser of Thursday's game faces elimination against Grand View or Midlands at 2 p.m. on Friday.
The Stars picked up their 50
th win of the season when they beat Missouri Baptist for the second time in the Opening Round last Thursday. The 50-9 Stars are sixth in the nation with a .369 batting average and lead the NAIA in slugging (.614), extra-base hits (225), home runs (76) and RBIs (441).
Rayburn, the Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year, leads the nation with 25 home runs and 93 RBIs. Rayburn is not the only slugger in the OCU lineup. Paul has 19 home runs and 75 RBIs out of the leadoff spot and Hoehner checks in with 71 RBIs.
OCU pitchers Heron (24-5) and
Brynlee Alsip (16-3) have been the primary starters. Heron has a 2.36 ERA and Alsip comes into the World Series with a 1.96 ERA. The team ERA is 2.36.
Central Methodist is 41-9 on the season and enters the World Series with a .351 batting average and a 2.28 earned run average.
Elizabeth Palumbo leads the Eagles with a .409 batting average to go with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs. Haley Cotter is the pitching ace with a record of 18-4 and a 1.42 earned run average.
OCU vs. The 2025 World Series Field
| Opponent |
W-L |
Last Meeting |
| (1) Cumberlands |
0-1 |
5/25/24, L 4-1 |
| (2) Georgia Gwinnett |
1-0 |
5/29/18, W 7-2 |
| (3) Southern Oregon |
2-3 |
5/29/19, L 8-3 |
| (5) Central Methodist |
3-2 |
2/23/25, W 21-13 |
| (6) Marian |
2-0 |
5/25/19, W 3-0 |
| (7) Eastern Oregon |
2-0 |
5/18/21, W 6-1 |
| (8) Grand View |
3-0 |
5/16/18, W 3-0 |
| (9) Midland |
5-4 |
5/17/23, L 2-1 |
| (10) Reinhardt |
2-0 |
5/25/19, W 3-0 |
