OC's Garrett Stephenson had three RBIs in a 14-4 win over Bethel (Tenn.) in the first game of a doubleheader.
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 6, 2012) – Oklahoma Christian used an eight-run third-inning outburst to down Bethel (Tenn.) 14-4 on a windy Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader at Dobson Field.
But the Eagles wasted a complete-game six-hitter by freshman Jacob Stephenson in the second game, failing to come through with clutch hits and falling 3-1 to Bethel, giving OC its first nonconference loss of the season.
In the opener, another freshman, Luke Sandoval, also went the distance on the mound for the Eagles. OC coach Chuck White was pleased with the Eagles' pitching but dismayed they didn't provide Stephenson sufficient run support.
"It's disappointing, especially considering the outings by the freshmen," OC coach Chuck White said. "In the first one, we supported (offensively) and in the second one, we didn't. … We just didn't put the ball in play. Our pitching gave us a chance to win. We just didn't score runs.
"The first game, we did what we were supposed to do. We were aggressive. We just went flat (in the second game). We've got to find the answer to that as a young team, because that's going to be our downfall if we can't answer that."
OC (7-6) scored in every inning in the first game and led 2-0 after two innings. Bethel (12-8) jumped on Sandoval for four unearned runs in the top of third inning, taking advantage of a throwing error by Jerry Owen to start the inning. Jordan Stack later hit a three-run double to give the Wildcats a 4-2 lead.
The Eagles answered by sending 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third. Chris Miller and Garrett Stephenson each had a two-run single and Tanner Hessman capped the rally with a three-run double down the left-field line that put OC up 10-4.
Daniel Thompson's third hit of the game, a fourth-inning RBI single, made it 11-4. The Eagles added three runs in the fifth and a run-scoring double by Owen gave OC a 14-4 lead and ended the game via the 10-run rule.
Owen finished 3-for-3, including a solo home run, and seven of OC's nine starters recorded at least one RBI.
Sandoval (2-1) allowed six hits and one walk while striking out three for the Eagles. Cade Chambers (0-1) took the loss for the Wildcats.
The Eagles took a quick 1-0 lead in the second game, as Dillon Andrews singled and eventually stole home while Heath Steele was caught in a rundown.
But the rest of the game, the Eagles failed to score, despite recording 11 hits. They wasted a one-out triple by Wes Dorough in the second and in the third, didn't score despite a leadoff double by Caleb Price and later loading the bases with one out. OC also left two runners on base in both the fifth and sixth innings and stranded nine runners overall.
Bethel tied the game in the second and took a 2-1 lead in the third on Lance Jerreld's RBI double. The Wildcats took advantage of two OC errors to add an insurance run in the sixth.
Stephenson (0-1) allowed six hits and four walks while striking out five batters. Keaton Gregory (1-0), the second of four Bethel pitchers, picked up the win.
OC will host longtime SAC power Oklahoma Baptist in a three-game series that's scheduled to start Thursday night.
