Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 MESQUITE, Texas – Oklahoma City University softball opened its 2026 season in the Lone Star State at the Southern Collegiate Sports Invitational. The Stars earned two wins to begin the year, 2-0, winning game one 14-5 in run-rule fashion and game two in exciting extra-innings fashion. Upon conclusion of game two, history was made, head coach
Phil McSpadden secured career win 2,000; a feat no other collegiate softball coach has accomplished, at any level.
Game 1
Oklahoma City 13, Bethel College 5
In game one, OCU scored early and often, taking a shutout into the final frame before surrendering five runs. Although the Stars gave up five runs, OCU still handily won the contest via run-rule.
Analise Rayburn and Jessica Pharees had home runs. Rayburn had three hits and four RBIs in the game.
Kindalyn Miller also had three hits.
Game 2
Oklahoma City 4, British Columbia 0
Game two was much more closely contested than the Stars' first game. OCU scored their only four runs in a key moment of the eighth inning, securing win number two on the 2026 season and win number 2,000 for coach McSpadden's career.
Carlee Mollett had an RBI single, Ililana Ashford had a two-run double and Miller added a sacrifice fly.
Currently, there are only three active coaches in the United States at any level of any sport, including professional, who have been at their respective posts longer than McSpadden: Andy Yosinoff is in year 49 with the Emmanuel College Saints women's basketball team, Geno Auriema has been at the helm of women's basketball for the University of Connecticut since 1985, and on the men's side, Oakland's coach Greg Kampe is in his 42nd year with the Golden Grizzlies.
McSpadden has built the nation's finest small-college softball program and most storied program in the NAIA at Oklahoma City University, capturing 11 national championships, the most in NAIA history, while becoming college softball's leader in wins. The next closest college softball coach in wins is Carol Hutchins, who coached the University of Michigan to 1,709 wins during her career.
During his tenure, McSpadden has coached 113 All-Americans, eight NAIA players of the year, two NAIA pitchers of the year, eight NAIA catchers of the year, five four-time All-American and 62 academic All-Americans. Four former OCU players have helped their country win Olympic medals.
In 1988, coach McSpadden came to OCU and started a tradition of dominance. Before coming to OCU, McSpadden coached at Ponca City and Dewey High Schools, compiling an impressive 127-40 record in five years while leading teams at both schools to state tournaments. While at Dewey, his teams won the school's first three crowns in any sport.
Next Up
Oklahoma City will continue its play in the Southern Sports Collegiate Invitational with two games on Saturday, Feb. 7. The Stars will play Friends University at 10 a.m. and Concordia (Neb.) at 11:50 a.m. before returning home to Ann Lacey Stadium to face Southern Oregon University in a national championship rematch doubleheader on Feb. 19. Oklahoma City's home opening game times are set for 2 and 4 p.m. CDT.
FOLLOW THE STARS
Find all news, scores, highlights, and updates on ocusports.com, Twitter (@ocustars), Instagram (@ocustars), Facebook (Oklahoma City University Stars), and YouTube (
@ocustars). Catch every OCU home game and select away games on the
SAC Sports Network.
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