OCU Athletics
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Shelbey Cornelson of Oklahoma City University took NAIA softball pitcher of the week for Feb. 28-March 6.
Cornelson, a junior from Tuttle, Okla., collected her second hurler of the week honor from the NAIA after being named the NAIA pitcher of the week for April 26-May 2, 2021.
Cornelson became the sixth Star to nab a weekly national honor and the 13th student-athlete who competes in the SAC to be recognized by the NAIA in 2021-22.
Cornelson took victories in both ends of Oklahoma City’s doubleheader sweep of Science & Arts on March 1 in a showdown of squads ranked among the top five in NAIA softball. Cornelson struck out 11 and limited the third-ranked Drovers to four hits and one walk in a complete-game outing in Chickasha, Okla. In the nightcap, Cornelson fanned five in 2.2 innings to grab the win in relief for fourth-ranked OCU.
In the Hosea Bell Red Dirt Classic, Cornelson added another complete game with seven strikeouts in five innings in a 10-3 win against Grambling on Friday at Hall of Fame Stadium. OCU collected its first win over an NCAA Division I team since a 7-6 victory at Arkansas on March 16, 2006.
For Feb. 28-March 6, Cornelson posted a 5-0 mark with a 1.48 earned run average, a save, three complete games and 38 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched for the Stars (17-0). Cornelson has turned in a 10-0 record, 1.54 ERA, two saves, seven complete games and 91 strikeouts in 63.2 innings thrown this season. She ranks second in wins and strikeouts, fourth in saves and fifth in appearances (14) within the NAIA in 2022.
OCU had been scheduled to play Southwestern Christian in a doubleheader Tuesday at Dolese Park in Oklahoma City. The Stars will face Southwestern Christian in a 2 p.m. twin bill March 22 at Dolese Park.