May 21, 2011

GULF SHORES, Ala. – (Box Score) Oklahoma City advances to Monday’s bracket play after a 4-1 win over Azusa Pacific (Calif.) on the final day of pool play action at the 2011 NAIA Softball National Championship Saturday at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. The Stars win Pool H with a perfect 3-0 mark. Oklahoma City will play at 10 a.m. CDT against the Pool A champion.

OCU pitcher Lily LaVelle, now 30-8 on the season, pitched her third complete-game victory of the tournament. She held the Cougars to one run on three hits in 7.0 innings. She struck out 12 and walked three. In three games in Gulf Shores, she has tallied 35 total strikeouts.

The Stars got on the board in the top of the first inning. Tori Joyner scored an unearned run after she reached on an error by the third baseman. She came around on an RBI-single by Nathalie Timmermans.

In the third inning, Timmermans drove in her second run on a RBI-single and LaVelle crossed home on a wild throw by the catcher. At that point, the Stars led 3-0. They would tack on a single run in the fifth.

Trailing 4-0, Azusa Pacific tried to mount a rally in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, Lindsay Clark scored on a wild pitch. However, LaVelle escaped further damage retiring Bekah Weisser on a fly-out.

Taryn Devich got the loss in 3.1 innings of work. She allowed three runs (one earned) on eight eights.

Joyner, Timmermans and Kylee Rounsaville each collected a pair of hits for the Stars. Azusa Pacific had three players each record a hit.

Azusa Pacific ends its season with a 32-22 overall record.

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