April 12, 2010

BETHANY, Okla. – Oklahoma City University powered its way to a 7-1 victory over Southern Nazarene to earn a doubleheader sweep on Tuesday.

The Stars, ranked 11th in NAIA softball, picked up a 7-2 win in game one of the twin bill behind 12 strikeouts from Ashley Wilburn. OCU has won nine consecutive games, and improves to 21-7, 18-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Southern Nazarene dropped to 22-11, 9-6 in the SAC.

The Stars built a 7-0 lead in game two with home runs from Nathalie Timmermans and LeeAnn Lopez. Lopez, a freshman from Grand Prairie, Texas, finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBIs, while Timmermans, a sophomore from Oldenzaal, Netherlands, was 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

Timmermans belted a solo shot to left-field in the second inning to put OCU on the board. Lopez connected for a two-run homer to left in the fourth inning as OCU went up 4-0. Lopez drove in two more runs with a single up the middle in the fifth to give the Stars a 7-0 cushion.

Lily LaVelle, this week's SAC pitcher of the week, allowed an earned run on three hits over seven innings to earn the victory. LaVelle (11-2) recorded seven strikeouts and went without a walk.

In game one, Wilburn (7-3) shut down the Southern Nazarene offense with five consecutive strikeouts to open the game. Wilburn allowed two runs on five hits, and finished with 12 strikeouts over seven innings to pick up the victory.

Amanda Howard went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored, and Timmermans went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Timmermans roped an RBI double in the fourth inning to drive in Howard, then Jen Davis drove in a run with a single up the middle as OCU built a 3-0 advantage. The Stars added a pair of runs in the fifth inning, capped by a solo homer from Howard over the left-center wall. Timmermans drove in two more runs in the seventh inning with a single to right-field.

The Stars travel to St. Gregory's on Thursday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.