Oklahoma City -- The OCU Stars softball team took care of first-game priorities in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference Championships, played on-campus at Ann Lacy Stadium.
( https://www.citynewsokc.com/sports/oklahoma-city-university-co-hosts-sooner-athletic-conference-softball-championship/article_e1040f68-094e-11ef-939f-0b75f891ab11.html )
With a High Noon first-pitch on Friday, March 3, the Stars thumped Southwestern Assembles of God University soundly, prevailing with a "run-rule" 12-0 margin after five innings.
In the top of the first inning the Stars delivered a decisive and game-deciding explosion.
Infielder Kaitlyn Jones was on-base when first base player Kamryn Garvie walked to the plate.
Garvie clobbered a home run down the right-field line, garnering two RBIs and a lead that never wavered.
With Baileigh Loux (who plays both catcher and outfielder) on base, an Emerson Heron triple to right-center led to another run. Heron came home when Tara Hoehrner (last week's SAC player of the week) doubled to right-center.
(https://www.citynewsokc.com/community/as-regular-season-champions-oklahoma-city-university-enters-sac-tournament-as-top-seed/article_5dfbbefc-08b0-11ef-9f70-8be28f84c851.html )
Hoerner promptly stole third base, then scored on a catcher's error.
The rout was on, but the Lady Stars weren't done for the first stanza.
Tiffany Paul (an outfielder who also catches behind home) knocked a single up the middle, then advanced to second on the throw. Amy Crabaugh, initially on first, raced all the way home after her second base theft.
Stars Third base player Rally Radacy singled to right center, advancing Paul to home for an RBI and pressing Iliana Ashford to third.
Back to the top of the order, Garvie grounded to the second base player. During the putout, Ashford (a utility player) scored and Kaitlyn Jones (who was on first) advanced to second.
Radacy had made it to third before Garvie's hit, and scored on a catcher's error.
After four innings, the score was 12-0, and that's how it ended after the top of the fifth.
SAGU had only 17 at-bats, two hits. Five runners were left on base.
OCU pitcher Emerson Herron went the distance and improved her record to 22-0. the loss went to SAGU's V. Guzman, who pitched only 0.1 inning and saw her mark for the year drop to 4-8.
The win improved OCU to 46-2 on the year, while the Lions dropped to 14-36.
The game was finished in one hour and 19 minutes, leaving the Stars comparatively fresh for an evening finish for the day.
A couple of hours later SAGU was eliminated in a 6-0 loss to Wayland Baptist, which had lost to just before to Southwestern Christian.
Note: Pat McGuigan wrote this story, with help from Stacy Martin, an Oklahoma City journalist who has twice been managing editor for CityNewsOKC, formerly The City Sentinel.
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