From OCU Sports Info.
Rich Tortorelli, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 1-ranked Oklahoma City University clipped Doane (Neb.) 2-1 on Monday in the NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket at Ann Lacy Stadium.
Samantha Stallbaumer knocked in the winning run by poking a base hit over shortstop Nicole Fernandez of Doane with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. The Stars (59-2) advanced to meet 20th-ranked Houston-Victoria at noon Tuesday at Ann Lacy Stadium.
Oklahoma City mounted a two-out rally to score the game winner. Laci Joyner launched a drive over left fielder Brittney Amezquita for a triple. Stallbaumer followed with her single to bring Joyner home.
Doane and OCU traded runs in the sixth inning. Kali Pugh lined a hit into right field. Pugh stole second base, then reached third as catcher Makaela Moore threw wild trying to throw out Pugh.
With two out, Pugh took off for home plate. In the ensuing rundown, Pugh sprinted into home plate when Moore threw to third baseman Sam Valadez. Pugh slid in with the first run of the game.
In the bottom of the sixth, Fernandez scored on Valadez’s ground ball to Pugh at shortstop.
OCU’s Georgia Wall carried a no-hitter through five innings until Fernandez led off the bottom of the sixth with an infield single. Wall, a freshman from Marlow, Okla., limited Doane to three hits and a walk in her 15th complete-game effort of the year. Wall struck out seven in improving to 21-0 this year.
Pugh, a junior from Vista, Calif., went 2-for-3 with a double, stolen base and a run scored, while Joyner, a sophomore from Mustang, Okla., was 1-for-2 and scored the winning run. Stallbaumer, a freshman from Haven, Kan., went 1-for-3, swiped a base and drove in a run.
Doane’s Ellie Doughty retired OCU in order through three innings. Pugh broke up Doughty’s perfect outing by doubling to lead off the fourth. Doughty kept the NAIA’s leading offense in hits and runs produced to an earned run on four hits and two walks. Doughty (16-9) fanned seven to increase her school-record strikeout total to 450.
NAIA Championship Opening Round
Oklahoma City Bracket
At Oklahoma City
Ann Lacy Stadium
Monday’s Results
Houston-Victoria 5, Friends (Kan.) 1
Oklahoma City 2, Doane (Neb.) 1
Tuesday’s Games
Game 3: Oklahoma City vs. Houston-Victoria, noon
Game 4: Doane vs. Friends, 3 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 6 p.m.
Wednesday’s Games
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, Noon
Game 7: If necessary, 3 p.m.