April 4, 2006

By Vince St. John , OCU Sports Information

OKLAHOMA CITY - Making NAIA history is one way to earn accolades.  At least, that was how Oklahoma City University softball player Cat Calvert did it.

Calvert smacked two grand slams in a game as OCU downed Oklahoma Christian University in a 17-15 slugfest on Thursday, March 30 at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. Calvert, a junior catcher from Grand Prairie, Texas, became the first player in the NAIA on record to hit two grand slams in the same game.

For her performance, Calvert was Sooner Athletic Conference softball player of the week.

In the second inning, Calvert came up with the bases loaded and OCU at a 4-1 deficit. With the count 3-2 and two outs, she drove a pitch to right-center field to clear the bases and give OCU the lead. That one sparked a seven-run OCU inning.

"I wanted to step up and make a difference," Calvert said. "That pitcher worked me well."

The very next inning, she got another chance with the bases full. Calvert came through once again. That one increased the Stars' lead to 12-4 in the third.

"I was really mad," Calvert said. "The pitching was struggling, so we just needed to step up. It was pretty aggravating because it's a different kind of game than we're used to playing."

After her two slams, she finished the day reaching base four times. Going 3-for-4, she had three hits and also walked once, en route to scoring three runs herself. In four games last week, she hit .294 for the week with two home runs, 12 RBI, two doubles and a slugging percentage of .765.

For the season, Calvert is hitting .491 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs through Tuesday's games against Rogers State University (Okla.).

"At first you think it's not that big of a deal because you know she's capable of doing something like that," OCU coach Phil McSpadden said. "But in a big game like that, with how many runs that were scored, it was huge.

"You build your lineup with your three, four and five slots as your RBI slots. She's in that three hole for a reason."

Jill Vaughn cracked a two-run walk-off home run to win the game against Oklahoma Christian. Vaughn, a senior from Oklahoma City, said she had a hard time following Calvert in the batting order.

"It was awesome," Vaughn said of Calvert's performance. "I told her that's not allowed in softball. It's a cupcake curse. I didn't want to get out after that."

Calvert enjoys snowboarding and cars. She paid for her first snowboarding trip on her own, and enjoyed it enough to go out and buy her own board. Her interest in cars, however, comes from her family.

"I grew up with them," Calvert said. "My dad always had different cars, so once I got old enough, I got into making them look pretty or making them fast."

Among her many favorite athletes is fellow Texan Roger Clemens. Calvert said she likes Clemens for more than just what he does on the field. Calvert admires Clemens for playing for the Houston Astros so he could be close to his family.

As an advertising major, Calvert said she would like to work in sports after graduation and says she'd like to get involved with the Oklahoma City Hornets.
But for now she wouldn't mind a few more big games.

"She's come through with some big hits and some big dingers," McSpadden said. "She's been clutch for us for two years now."