OKLAHOMA CITY -- The No. 1-ranked Oklahoma City University Stars rode a pair of strong pitching performances to a sweep of the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels in the Sooner Athletic Conference opening series for MACU Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 29) at Jack Allen Field.  The Stars bested the Lady Evangels 8-0 in the first game and then 9-1 in the nightcap. 

The Stars (10-1) jumped all over the Lady Evangels in the opener as LeeAnn Lopez homered as part of a four-run first inning. 

Lopez then singled home a run in the second inning that made it a 5-0 lead. 

Over the next two innings, MACU starter Jackie Hilterbran blanked the Stars before OCU put it away with three runs in the fifth to create the run rule of an eight-run lead after five innings. 

OCU hurler Lily LaVelle shut out the Lady Evangels over her five innings of work on only one hit and struck out 12.  She was two outs away from a perfect game when Ashlee Dodson reached on an infield single to shortstop. 

The Stars would again run rule the Lady Evangels in the second game, but not before starter Amber Tinney shined for the first three innings. 

Tinney blanked the top-ranked Stars for the first two frames and allowed only one run through three innings. 

The Lady Evangels (2-6, 0-2 SAC) grabbed the early 1-0 lead as Christian Reyes drew a lead-off walk, stole second and was chased home on an RBI single by Ashley Newman. 

OCU manufactured the same type of scoring opportunity in the third after Tori Joyner walked, stole second and scored on a run-scoring single by LaVelle.  

Tinney then ran into trouble in the fourth as the Stars staged a two-out rally and jumped on top with RBI singles by Jamie Rateliff and Joyner.  The Lady Evangels then allowed the Stars to break the game wide open with three errors in the inning that led to six unearned runs to give OCU a commanding 9-1 lead. 

A.J. Woodward then held the Lady Evangels scoreless over the final two innings to end the game. 

Tinney lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up only three earned runs of the nine runs charged to her. 

Woodward went the distance to get the win, holding the Lady Evangels hitless over the final four innings and striking out three. 

LaVelle followed up her brilliant pitching performance in the opener by powering the Stars at the plate in the second game with a 3-of-4 effort and three RBI. 

Tomorrow, the Lady Evangels will host Oklahoma Baptist at 1 p.m.  The games were originally scheduled for 2 p.m., but were moved up an hour due to potential darkness.