Story by Alfred Kojima, NAIA Media Assistant
Pictures courtesy of NAIAPictures.com

COLUMBUS, Ga. – (Box Score) Senior pitcher Danielle Fox earned her second victory of the World Series and seventh shutout of the season, as No. 8 Oklahoma City posted a 2-0 victory over No. 1 LSU Alexandria (La.), in second day action of the 2014 NAIA Softball World Series at the South Commons Softball Complex on Saturday. .

The Generals (35-4), who were playing their first all-time game in the World Series, were held off the scoreboard for the first time this season.

Fox allowed five hits on the night, did not walk a batter nor strike out a batter to improve to 22-3 on the season.

“She is an evolution of a great kid, great student-athlete.” said Oklahoma City head coach Phil McSpadden. “She has evolved where the girls play well behind her, they believe in her, she’ll hit her spots and not make mistakes. I just love somebody that transforms themselves early in their career.”

Oklahoma City (54-11) played their second game of the World Series after recording a 15-2 victory over No. 9 Simpson (Calif.) (six innings) on Friday. The Stars picked up four hits, two by sophomore Kyndra Holasek, who leads all of NAIA with 117 safeties for the year.

The Stars plated both runs in the third inning. With one out, sophomore Shelby Legg reached on a walk and scored on an RBI double down the left field line by Holasek, who later took third on the throw to the plate. A wild pitch plated Holasek with the second run.

In the LSU Alexandria third with one out, junior Brooke Thomas and freshman Kaylee Prather reached on infield base hits. A fly ball to left and a pop fly to second ended the inning. The Generals kept the ball in the air most of the night as 16 of 21 outs were recorded by either pop ups, line drives or fly ball outs in the outfield. Fox commended the play of her defense.

“My defense was awesome, they made stellar catches.” Fox said. “My pitches were working, but my defense was incredible. They work together as a team and its fun and I like being in that moment.

 “I am a lot more confident than I have been the last two years, just being here knowing what it’s like, knowing what kind of pressures that are here. Trying to be an example for the girls is my main focus. They also keep me up as well, it works both ways. It’s a great team effort.

The Stars advance in the double-elimination event and will meet No. 5 Reinhardt (Ga.) (45-8) in a winner’s bracket game Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. EDT. The Generals drop to the loser’s bracket and will meet No. 10 College of Idaho (34-17) in an elimination game Monday afternoon at 1 p.m.

The 34th Annual Softball World Series is a 10-team, double-elimination event hosted by the Columbus Sports Council.

For more information, including updated bracket, stats and live streaming, click here.