Oklahoma City – The Oklahoma City softball team needed to work an extra day in the 2025 NAIA National Softball Tournament, and it paid off as the Stars defeated Missouri Baptist 4-3 in eight innings to advance to the final site in Columbus, Ga., starting on Thursday, May 22.
 
This is the 35^th year the Stars have played in the national tournament, as they search for their 12^th Red Banner in program history.
 
Oklahoma City fell into the elimination side of the bracket after losing to the Spartans 5-3 in the second round of the tournament. The Stars then went on to win three straight games, which included a pair of one-run victories over Missouri Baptist to claim the opening round title.
 
In the final game of the opening round, the Stars opened the scoring in the first as Iliana Ashford homered to left field to make the score 1-0. Carlee Mollet extended the lead to 2-0 as she hit a single up the middle to score Kindalyn Miller in the second frame before the Spartans took the lead with three runs in the home half of the second to give them a 3-2 advantage.
 
The Stars evened the contest in the top of the sixth inning as Analise Rayburn launched a solo home run over the left field wall to make the score 3-3. Tara Hoehner put Oklahoma City out front for good in the eighth as she lifted her 16^th round tripper of the year over the wall to push Oklahoma City to the lead 4-3.
 
Emerson Heron earned her 25^th win of the season in the circle by going the distance with a pair of strikeouts in the contest.
 
The Stars will open action in Columbus, Ga., on May 22 at 6 p.m., as they are the No. 4 seed in the final site and will match up against No. 5 Central Methodist.