May 21, 2007

SHEMBEREVA THROWS SHUTOUT IN OCU VICTORY
Shutout Propels Oklahoma City in 2007 Winner's Bracket

Decatur, Ala. - From the 2007 NAIA National Softball Championship at Wilson Morgan Park in Decatur, Alabama, Oklahoma City University (50-6) shutout Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.) (58-10) 2-0 to advance in the winner's bracket to face Simon Fraser University (B.C.).

The Stars of Oklahoma City scattered four hits among four different batters in the contest.  In the top of the second inning, sophomore Erin Slettvet led the Stars with a single, advanced on a wild throw, and then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Howard.  The Stars added another run in the top of the fourth inning when Howard scored the lone run after reaching on a fielder's choice back to the pitcher.  Coming into the 2007 tournament, Howard was batting .318 with four home runs and 28 RBI.

Senior Dash Shembereva pitched the seven-inning shutout allowing no runs while striking out seven Trojan batters.  Shembereva improved her season record to 28-3 while leading the Stars in pitching.

Second baseman Sidney Crews led the Trojans of Trevecca Nazarene offensively going 2-for-3.  The remaining three hits for Trevecca were scattered among three different batters.  Junior Brittany Johnson, Trevecca's leading pitcher, suffered the loss to drop her record to 41-6.  The TranSouth Conference Pitcher of the Year pitched seven complete innings of play allowing one earned run while striking out seven Star batters.

Oklahoma City will face Simon Fraser University (B.C.) in the winner's bracket at 5:30 p.m. today while Trevecca drops into the loser's bracket to face Houston Baptist University at the same time.

For more information on the 2007 NAIA Softball National Championship, please visit www.naia.org.