Oklahoma City takes down Mobile (Ala.), 5-1 on Day One
May 19, 2011
GULF SHORES, Ala. – Oklahoma City (45-12) rode the arm of pitcher Lily LaVelle to victory with a 5-1 defeat of Mobile (Ala.) (34-18) on day one of the NAIA Softball National Championship. The event is being held at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
LaVelle, a 5-7 junior, went the distance striking out 12 batters. She allowed four walks and one hit. In the bottom of the third inning, she ran into her only trouble. After giving up two walks to begin the inning, she balked in a run.
From there, Mobile did not threaten in the next four innings. No runner reached second base from that point on and LaVelle improved to 28-8 on the season.
All the offense the Stars needed came in the second inning. Kylee Rounsaville drove in Magean De La Torre after doubling to left field. Rounsaville eventually scored on a fielder’s choice to put Oklahoma City up 2-0.
Oklahoma City added single runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings.
Mobile starter Kamaron Strickland stayed in the circle for seven innings. She fell to 14-10 on the year after allowing five runs on 14 hits while striking out two.
Five Stars compiled a pair of hits on the offensive side. LaVelle was one of those hitters as she went 2-for-5 and helped her pitching cause.
Rams lead-off hitter Mayles Rodriguez notched the only hit, a single in the bottom of the first inning.
Oklahoma City takes on St. Thomas (Fla.) on Friday at 4:30 p.m. CDT in pool-play action. Mobile will compete against Azusa Pacific (Calif.) at 11:30 a.m.
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