No. 1 Stars shut out Bruins, 8-0 at NAIA Opening Round

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. -- The top-ranked Oklahoma City University softball team produced 13 hits while riding a no-hitter by All-American Georgia Wall as the Stars defeated Bellevue University, 8-0 in six innings Tuesday afternoon at Ann Lacy Stadium in the winner's bracket of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. 

The Stars, who improved to 63-1 on the season, advanced to the championship game of the tournament at noon on Wednesday. Bellevue (50-15) will play either Kansas Wesleyan or Simpson (Calif.) at 5:00 p.m. today in a loser's bracket contest. 

Neither team scored until an RBI single to right by Jaci Smith scored Samantha Stallbaumer from third to give the Stars a 1-0 advantage in the top of the third. OCU made it 2-0 later in the inning with an RBI double to left by Madison Ellis that drove in Smith. 

The Stars increased the lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth on Smith's two-run double to right field, forcing the Bruins to replace starter Kelli Fisher with Lexi LeCalsey. Ellis drilled a two-run homer on LeCalsey's first pitch of the game to give the Stars a 6-0 margin. 

A solo homer to left field by Stephanie Koishor and an RBI double to left-center field by Ellis increased the OCU lead to 8-0 in the top of the sixth frame. 

Ellis finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBIs to lead the OCU offense. 

Wall (28-0) was just one walk away from recording a perfect game. She struck out eight in the victory with no hits and one walk. Fisher (30-7) was tagged with the loss, scattering eight hits with no walks and two strikeouts in four innings of work.