Stars take 5-0, 4-1 wins over Mid-America Christian to hand McSpadden 1,860th career victory
3/10/2023 8:22:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY – Phil McSpadden took over as college softball's all-time victories leader in Oklahoma City University's doubleheader sweep of Mid-America Christian 5-0 and 4-1 on Friday at Allen Field.
McSpadden boosted his career win total to 1,860 wins, more than Mike Candrea, who had resided atop the list of winningest college softball coaches. McSpadden has directed Oklahoma City to a 1,860-404 record in his 36th season as head coach.
Under McSpadden, OCU has reeled in 11 national championships (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2016, 2017 and 2022) and finished as national runner-up five times. Candrea guided Arizona and Central Arizona to a 1,859-505-2 mark in 40 years.
Once OCU made the last out, the Stars embraced their coach, who took the team to Chick-fil-A afterwards to celebrate.
"I want to believe they see kids who are students of the game and passionate about what they do," McSpadden said about what he expects from his student-athletes. "I always use the expression it's a classroom on the field. You're hoping it's not about someone standing in the third-base box just clapping their hands and saying, 'It's okay girls, we'll get them tomorrow.' That we're intense and we play hard and play the way it's supposed to be played. We're going to play intense, and we're going to play with the idea we're supposed to win. I hope that people see these kids are having fun in the process."
The Stars, ranked sixth in the NAIA, handed McSpadden the milestone victory by building a 4-0 cushion in the late game of the twin bill. OCU (17-5, 4-0 Sooner Athletic Conference) plated two runs in the fifth inning. Brooklyn Mason drove a double to left-center field to bring home Rally Radacy andput OCU on top 3-0. Tiffany Paul nailed an RBI base hit to right-center for the other run.
Oklahoma City took advantage of Mid-America Christian miscues to move ahead 2-0 in the second inning. Mason reached home plate on a fielding error by shortstop Mikaylee Allen in the first inning. In the second, Analise Rayburn sped home after a throwing error by Cailey Parsells.
Lexi Duff carried a shutout until the seventh inning, when Macy Stockton had an RBI single to give Mid-America Christian its lone run of the day. Duff, a senior biomedical sciences major from Lone Grove, Okla., allowed four hits and a walk while striking out three, including a called third strike against Hallie Wilson for the second out of the seventh inning. Duff (7-2) retired Allen on a grounder to OCU shortstop Tiffany Paul with two on for the final out.
Oklahoma City University clinched Phil McSpadden's astounding 1,860th career win on this groundout! #OCUsb #win1860 #thisisOCU #GreatdaytobeaStar #milestone #Legendary pic.twitter.com/45yTzVlgQ9
— Oklahoma City University Softball (@ocu_softball) March 11, 2023
Mason, a senior from Lone Grove, Okla., studying nursing, turned in a 2-for-4 outing with two runs scored and an RBI. Paul, a sophom*ore mathematics major from Choctaw, Okla., went 1-for-3 with a run driven in.
OCU took game 1 as McSpadden equaled the all-time mark. Garvie added the exclamation point by driving a fly ball over the right-center field wall in the sixth inning for a 4-0 advantage. Garvie drove in two runs, putting the Stars ahead 1-0 with a base hit to center field in the first.
Paul smacked an RBI double to left to give Oklahoma City a 2-0 third-inning lead. Amy Crabaugh lined a run-scoring single along the third-base foul line in the fourth.
Mason closed out the scoring by nailing an RBI triple to right-center in the seventh.
Shelbey Cornelson earned her fifth complete-game shutout of the season, holding Mid-America Christian to four hits and five walks while striking out seven in seven innings. Cornelson, a senior exercise science major from Tuttle, Okla., improved to 9-2 on the season. Cornelson started a double play to end the fifth by snaring Janessa Larman'sline drive, then throwing out Allen at first base.
Garvie, a junior from Edmond, Okla., majoring in university studies, posted a 2-for-3 showing with two RBIs and a run scored. Amy Crabaugh, a senior biomedical sciences major from Edmond, Okla., was 1-for-2 with a run scored and RBI, while Radacy, a sophom*ore exercise science major from Lookeba, Okla., scored two runs.
"Coach Phil is so deserving of this honor as the record speaks for itself," said Jaci (Smith) Witt, the 2019 NAIA player of the year and three-time NAIA catcher of the year with OCU. "Phil is the most humble and best coach there is. He has been a servant to not only the game, but also the players that have played for him. The players who have played at OCU would not be the players they are or were without him. Coach puts his all into coaching the game of softball and asks for the same in return from his players. Truly deserving for him, and I'm so happy to see him achieve this honor."
Florida coach Tim Walton said of McSpadden, "You've done so much for the game of softball and for so many young people and so many young coaches who have looked up to you and appreciated the way you recruited, the way you competed. You're just a champion on and off the field. I'm really proud to call you a competitor and more importantly, call you a friend."
The Stars take on eighth-ranked Science & Arts in a 5 p.m. doubleheader March 21 at Ann Lacy Stadium.
