COLUMBUS, Ga. – Emersen Heron tossed her third shutout of the national tournament and Oklahoma City claimed an 8-0 win over Grand View on Saturday to move to 2-0 in the NAIA Softball World Series.
 
Heron (26-5) shut out the Vikings on four hits with four strikeouts to snap Grand View's impressive three-game nationals win streak. The Vikings had beaten top-ranked USAO in Chickasha and World Series top seed Cumberlands to get to Saturday's game.
 
The Stars made the most of their five hits with Kindalyn Miller celebrating her birthday with a three-run home run to break open a three-run game for a 6-0 lead.
 
OCU snapped the scoreless tie with two runs in the third on a bases-loaded walk to Iliana Ashford and a sacrifice fly by Tara Hoehner.
 
Ashford came through again in the fifth inning with an RBI double to put the Stars ahead 3-0.
 
After Analise Rayburn singled and Rally Radacy reached on a sacrifice attempt, Miller delivered a three-run shot just over the left field wall for the 6-0 lead.
 
Hoehner produced again in the top of the seventh with an RBI triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Rayburn for the final margin.
 
Grand View got a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the seventh but Heron preserved the shutout, inducing back-to-back infield pop ups.

With the win, OCU remains one of two unbeaten teams in the tournament and will face Eastern Oregon or Marian for a spot in the championship game. Game time on Monday is 6 p.m. (Central).