Oklahoma City University Athletics

CHICKASHA – Oklahoma City got its first Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament title since 2022 with a 6-1 win over Science and Arts of Oklahoma on Saturday.
 
After falling behind 1-0, the Stars scored six unanswered runs to snap a six-game slump in the rivalry with the Drovers.
 
USAO broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Lilyanna Portillo.
 
The Stars broke up the shutout by of Jayden Anderson with a three-run fourth inning. Tara Hoehner led off the inning with a single and stole second before taking third on a base hit by Analise Rayburn. After Peyton Barrow was hit by a pitch to load the bases, USAO called upon ace Aubree Ferguson. Ferguson struck out two Stars before freshman Kaiden Spidell ripped a 3-2 pitch to right field for three runs.
 
Brynlee Alsip worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and retired the last seven batters in order to get the win and improve to 28-4 on the season.
 
The Stars, for the second time in the tournament, got back-to-back home runs by Hoehner and Rayburn, putting the Stars ahead 6-1 in the top of the seventh. Hadley Gibson had reached prior to Hoehner's homer. It was Rayburn's 24^th and Hoehner's 17^th home runs of the season.
 
The Stars had nine hits, including two each by Spidell, Hoehner and Rayburn.
 
OCU won the title for the first time since beating USAO in Ann Lacy Stadium 1-0 in 2022. It is OCU's eighth conference championship this year.
 
The Stars begin the NAIA Opening Round at home on May 11. The field for that tournament will be announced on Wednesday. USAO also will host an Opening Round in Chickasha.