OKLAHOMA CITY – Thursday at Ann Lacy Stadium featured must-watch softball with the top two teams in the NAIA faced off against one another in a national championship rematch during the Stars' 2026 home opener. The Raiders of Southern Oregon University entered the doubleheader as the number one team in softball with Oklahoma City University narrowly behind them. 
 

Game 1
Oklahoma City 5, Southern Oregon 2


Top Performer
Kaiden Spidell: 3-3, R, RBI


The basepaths were busy early on in the contest for Southern Oregon after a defensive error by the Stars' defense and a single put Raiders on first and second base in the first inning. However, Brynlee Alsip pitched her way out of the early jam. After neither team tallied offensive success in the opening frame, SOU knocked in the first run of the game during the second inning to give the Raiders an early 1-0 lead. 

SOU stranded five baserunners during the first three innings, but were able to build a 2-0 lead after adding another run in the third inning; the Raiders paired a double and a single together in the third inning for their second run of the game. The Raiders' starting pitcher, Ayla Davies held the Stars in check through the first three frames. 

During the fourth inning, the lid flew off the jar for Oklahoma City as they put together a five-run fourth inning, which was capped by an explosive three-run homerun by the Stars' left fielder, Tara Hoehner. Prior to the long ball by Hoehner, singles and stolen bags aided the Stars' offensive success. 

With a 5-2 lead, OCU cruised through the final three frames of game one. Despite matters becoming slightly hairy in the seventh inning, the Stars closed the game out and Alsip recorded a complete-game winning effort. The winning effort from the circle for Alsip moves her to 3-0 in 2026. 




Game 2
Southern Oregon 8, Oklahoma City 3


Top Performers
Jessica Phares: 2-3


Game two featured early offense by the Raiders and the first three innings dictated the outcome of the second leg of Thursday's doubleheader. Southern Oregon tallied nine hits in the second and third innings, scoring six of their eight runs between the two frames. During the second inning, three singles provided ample opportunity for SOU to generate runs. In the bottom half of the second inning, OCU had a chance to answer after the Raiders claimed a 2-0 lead, but ultimately left two on base while ending the inning with a baserunner being cut down in a rundown. However, the Stars did tally a run, cutting the deficit in half to 2-1. 

Southern Oregon stretched their lead to 6-1 after an offensive output paired with small ball tactics and timely hitting. The second batter of the inning was hit by a Kindalyn Miller pitch and the ensuing hitter but a sacrifice bunt in play to move the runner over before a defensive error allowed that runner to cross home plate. Miller recorded an out but the next four Raiders' hitters all singled with well placed hits. 

McKenna Snider came in to pitch in relief for OCU and recorded the final out of the inning. The freshman from Paradise, Texas finished the game in the circle for Oklahoma City and finished with 4.1 innings pitched while walking one batter and striking out another; Snider did not surrender any earned runs, but did allow two more SOU runs. 

Between both teams, 12 total errors were recorded in both games of Thursday's action; exemplifying the amount of offensive pressure applied by both elite squads. OCU outhit the Raiders 10-6 in game one while SOU flipped the tables in game two, outhitting the Stars 11-6. 



Next Up
Oklahoma City will make the short trip to Shawnee, Okla. to partake in the NAIA Softball Invitational on Feb. 20 and 21. The Stars are scheduled to play at noon and 4 p.m. CDT on Friday against Baker (Kan.) and Friends University (Kan.) respectively.   



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