May 22, 2007

OKLAHOMA CITY EDGES PAST POINT LOMA IN WINNER'S BRACKET

The Stars Remain Undefeated in 2007 Tournament

Decatur, Ala. - From the 2007 NAIA National Softball Championship at Wilson Morgan Park in Decatur, Alabama, Oklahoma City University (52-6) forces Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) (44-11) into the loser's bracket of the tournament with a 1-0 victory.

Remaining the only team to be unbeaten in this year's tournament, Oklahoma City advances to the championship game for the first time since 2002 when they defeated Point Loma Nazarene to capture the title that season.  The Stars edged Point Loma out of the winner's bracket by scoring one run in the top of the second inning.  The one run would prove enough behind the pitching of senior Dasha Shembereva who pitched seven complete innings striking out three batters and only two hits. In the tournament, Shembereva has compiled a 0.21 earned run average in 33.1 innings with 36 strikeouts. 

The Stars scattered two hits among three different players including center fielder Melody Murphy (2-for-3), second baseman Brittani Ellis (2-for-3), and left fielder Kasey Hobens (2-for-3).  Murphy (13-for-26) and Ellis (9-for-18) are both currently batting .500 and ranking in the top ten among batters in the tournament.

Shembereva earned the victory to improve her record to 30-3 on the season.

The Sea Lions managed only two hits in the contest.  Left fielder Melissa Gomez and pinch hitter Laressa Newman compiled those hits for Point Loma.  Senior KC Robertson suffered the loss for the Sea Lions dropping her record to 18-5 on the season.  Robertson pitched seven complete innings allowing only the one run and it was unearned.

Oklahoma City advances to the championship game at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.  The Stars await the winner of the Simon Fraser University (B.C.) and California Baptist University.

For more information on the tournament, please visit www.naia.org.