OC's Tanner Hessman, shown trying to tag Wayland Baptist's Colton Palmer out, went 4-for-6 and hit the game-winning two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to lift OC to an 18-17 win over the Pioneers on Saturday.
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 3, 2012) – Tanner Hessman's two-out, two-run single to left field capped an eight-run ninth-inning rally, lifting Oklahoma Christian to a wild 18-17 win over Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Saturday afternoon at Dobson Field.
OC (6-5, 3-5 Sooner Athletic Conference) swept the three-game series from Wayland Baptist (8-13, 0-6), but the Eagles looked finished after committing three errors and surrendering five runs in the top of the ninth, giving Wayland Baptist a 17-10 lead.
But for the second time this season, the Eagles rallied in the bottom of the ninth to win. Caleb Price singled up the middle off Wayland Baptist reliever Tom Bailey to start the inning and Hessman, Dillon Andrews and Heath Steele followed with singles. Steele's single brought home two runs.
After a walk, Jobi Sanchez (0-1) replaced Bailey and promptly gave up a two-run single to Chris Miller, cutting the Pioneers' lead to 17-14. Sanchez retired Jerry Owen on a groundout, but then walked Evan Draper and surrendered another two-run single, to Garrett Stephenson.
That brought on a third Wayland Baptist pitcher, Arthur Robles. He coaxed a groundout from Price, but Hessman then delivered his game-winning single.
OC scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat Southern Nazarene 5-4 in the season opener.
The Eagles rolled up 20 hits on Saturday. Hessman went 4-for 6 with four RBIs, while Steele was 3-for-4 with a home run, five RBIs and four runs scored. Andrews, Owen and Price had three hits each and Miller had three RBIs.
Wayland Baptist had 16 hits off three OC pitchers and scored in every inning but the seventh. Josh Chinni went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored and Brandon Barcalow also had three hits for the Pioneers.
Dillon Andrews (1-0) recorded the final two outs for the Eagles in the top of the ninth and picked up the pitching win.
OC will return to action Tuesday, hosting Bethel (Kan.) in a doubleheader.
