Jerry Owen went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for OC in a 6-5 loss at Southern Nazarene.

BETHANY, Okla. (April 5, 2012) – A ninth-inning rally by Oklahoma Christian fell just short Thursday as the Eagles lost 6-5 to Southern Nazarene at Cypert Athletic Complex.

OC (7-23, 3-19 Sooner Athletic Conference) blew a 4-0 first-inning lead and trailed 6-4 entering the top of the ninth inning. Jerry Owen, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, doubled down the left-field line to start the inning and eventually scored on a groundout by Tanner Hessman.

Chris Miller followed with a pinch-hit double, but Cody Alsup struck out and Caleb Price grounded out to the pitcher to end the game and give SNU reliever Matt Berry his second save of the baseball season.

The Eagles jumped to a quick lead over SNU (14-19, 10-9). OC touched SNU starter Zack Swart (3-3) for five hits in the first inning, including an RBI double to left-center field by Wes Dorough, a run-scoring infield single by Dillon Andrews and a two-run single to center by Owen.

Swart settled down and allowed only four more hits while striking out 10 during his seven-inning stint.

The Crimson Storm took advantage of four OC errors in the fourth inning to score three runs and tie the game at 4-4. Ryan Williams delivered the key blow, a two-run triple off OC starter Ryan Morris (2-8).

James Tunnell's single scored Ryan McIntosh, who had doubled, putting SNU up 5-4 in the seventh. Nate Saquilon's solo home run in the eighth gave SNU a 6-4 lead.

Morris allowed nine hits and five runs (two earned) in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out eight batters.

Williams went 3-for-5 with three RBIs while Saquilon went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for SNU.

OC will try to snap its 18-game losing streak on Friday at 6 p.m., when the Eagles host SNU at Dobson Field in the second game of the series.