Story by Chad Waller, Director of Communications & Sports Information
Pictures courtesy of Rick Dominowski, Click HERE to order

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – (Box Score) Kyndra Holasek’s two-out RBI double in the top of the seventh was the game-winner and handed top seed Oklahoma City a 3-2 win against No. 8 Marian (Ind.) at the 36th Annual NAIA Softball World Series, presented by Security National Bank and Morningside College. The Stars advance to tangle with No. 4 Saint Xavier (Ill.) Monday at 4 p.m. CDT in the winner’s bracket.

The Stars put a pair of runs on the scoreboard in the visitor half of the first inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Oklahoma City’s Laci Joyner rapped a single to center. That hit drove home Kali Pugh and Kyndra Holasek.

Marian quickly countered in the bottom of the first. After Logan Personett doubled to left-center to lead off things, Erica Miller sent Personett home on a single.

Both offenses would remain quiet until the sixth inning. Maddie Mulinaro, who pinch-ran for Sam Pash, tied the game for Marian on a Riley Cripe ground-out.

But the nation’s No. 1 team in the Coaches’ Top 25 Poll for the last six weeks of the regular season pushed the game-winner across in the top of the seventh. After a strike out and fly-out, Oklahoma City’s Jaci Smith reached on a walk. She never hesitated around the bases on the double to right field hit by Holasek. Smith slid in under the tag of the catcher and the Stars had a 3-2 advantage.

Oklahoma City pitcher Georgia Wall worked around a single by Miller in the seventh to earn the victory. Wall tossed 5.0 innings in relief and notched the win to move to 23-0 on the year. She allowed one run on three hits. She struck out two and walked two. Starter Abby Meador went 2.0 innings and gave up one run on two hits.

Breena Smith, who went all 7.0 innings for Marian, surrendered three runs on six hits. She fanned six batters and walked three. She fell to 28-6 on the year.

Pugh and Joyner each compiled two hits for Oklahoma City.

For Marian, Miller went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Falling into the loser’s bracket, Marian meets up with No. 3 St. Gregory’s (Okla.) Monday at 1 p.m.

Stretch Internet, the NAIA’s official video-streaming company of NAIA national championship events, will be broadcasting all 19 games of the 2016 NAIA Softball World Series on the NAIA Network. The All-World Series package can be purchased for $29.95 or the day package for $9.95. For more information, including how to register for an account, click here.

The double-elimination event is being played out at the Elizabeth & Irving Jensen Softball Complex. The City of Sioux City and Morningside College serve as official hosts for the second-straight time. For more information on the 2016 NAIA Softball World Series, click here.