OCU softball recently opened their spring 2021 season.
The Stars claimed their first victory of the season over Texas Wesleyan University at Sycamore Park in Fort Worth, TX, with a doubleheader sweep of 11-4 and 5-0.
This season-opening pair of games comes after several game postponements and cancellations. The team was last scheduled to play Mid-America Christian University Feb. 26 in Oklahoma City, but MACU canceled the game due to weather complications from the 2021 U.S. cold snap. They were also scheduled to play in the Ardmore Tournament in Ardmore, Okla. Feb. 12-13 and the Allen Tournament in Allen, TX. Feb. 19-21, but both were canceled. Their Feb. 23 game against University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha, Okla. was postponed, with no future date for the event announced.
Phil McSpadden, head softball coach, said the team’s season was originally delayed due to COVID-19.
“The only game that was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions was on February 2nd,” McSpadden said.
Before the game, Mallory McCoy, cellular and molecular biology sophomore, said the team was expecting to push through with a win, despite previous game cancellations.
“There is always a learning curve during the first few games, no matter when they are played,” McCoy said. “Of course, we are expecting some hiccups here and there that come from a lack of game time, but with all the cancelations, we’ve had extra time to prepare. We may be at a slight disadvantage in the beginning when we are playing teams that have a few games under their belts, but I expect us to catch on pretty quickly.”
The Stars were set to compete in the 2019 Sooner Athletic Conference Softball Tournament, with hopes of advancing to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Championship opening round and the NAIA Softball World Series, but their season was cut short due to the pandemic.
McCoy said the late season start has not discouraged the team’s ambitions and goals. She said she continues to have high hopes for herself and the rest of the girls.
“I don’t think we should be worried about being behind or anything because of the late start,” McCoy said. “We’ve all played the game our whole lives. We know what we’re doing. We just need to focus on the task at hand.”
Kennedy Jackson, elementary education senior, said she was ready to kick off the season with her team after not playing since 2019.
“I feel like this team is ready to play,” Jackson said
Jackson said the team hopes to pave the way to nationals this year.
“Nationals is expected for this softball program,” Jackson said. “We all have our roles and we know what to do as a team, and as individual athletes, to make it to nationals and win.”
The team is currently ranked no. 4 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
The Stars continued their season in the Langston Red Dirt Classic March 5-6, at Hall of Fame Stadium, OCU’s home ballpark from 1993 to 2007, in Oklahoma City. They played Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas) March 5 at 12:15 p.m., winning with a score of 6-0. They then played Lyon University (Ark.) at 1:45 p.m., beating them with a score of 5-1. They completed the tournament March 6, playing against Ottawa University (Kan.) at 10:45 a.m., losing with a score of 0-1, Morningside College (Iowa) at 12:15 p.m., winning with a score of 3-1, and Lyon University, winning 3-0.
They then played a doubleheader against Concordia University (Neb.) March 9 at Ann Lacy Stadium, winning the 2 p.m. game with a score of 4-2, and losing the 4:00 p.m. game with a score of 7-10.
The Stars are next set to play a doubleheader against Southwestern Christian University (Okla.) March 12th at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Dolese Park in Oklahoma City.
For more softball updates, fans can visit the OCUSports website and the MediaOCU sports page.
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