LUBBOCK, Texas (May 6, 2011) – The Oklahoma Christian baseball team utilized a ninth inning effort to overtake No. 19 Rogers State University (Okla.) 19-16 in the final pool game of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday.
After a three-run inning from the Hillcats in the first inning, the Eagles responded with six runs in the top of the second to take a three-score lead at 6-3. Balch led off the inning with a first pitch homer before Jeff Davis and Zac Coshow both scored on a double from Taylor Parcus. Parcus, Garrett Stephenson, and Jordan Price also made it home during the inning.
Rogers State responded with a big inning of their own in the bottom of the third putting up five runs to take an 8-6 lead over the Eagles. With no plan of surrender, the Eagles fought back again in the fourth with three more runs to take a single run lead at 9-8. Davis was responsible for all three scores with a homer that sent in both Balch and Bowker.
A run from the Hillcats in the bottom of the inning evened things up at 9-9 until the Eagles jumped back into the lead with four runs in the fifth to take the 13-9 advantage. Dustin Andrews batted in three of the runs with a homer the drove in Price and Stephenson. Bowker picked up the fourth score on a failed pickoff attempt.
Despite the Eagles' efforts, Rogers continued to respond sending home five runners in the sixth and two more in the seventh to lead by three at 16-13 going into the eighth.
After a scoreless inning, the Eagles again broke out their bats for the final inning to put up six runs for a 19-16 lead. With the bases loaded, both Tyler Gipson and Parcus were forced home on a hit by pitch and walk for the first two scores. Zac Coshow fired a grand slam to score four and take the three-run lead over the Hillcats.
The Eagles grabbed three quick outs, including a double play, to hold RSU in the bottom of the inning and take the 19-16 victory.
Andrews and Coshow led at the plate going 2-for-4 and 2-for-6, respectively, with Andrews sending home five runners and Coshow sending home four. Parcus, Price and Blach all helped out going 2-for-5, while Davis contributed with 2-for-4 hitting and three RBI.
With the win the Eagles claimed a 1-2 pool play record for the SAC tournament and ended their season not advancing to the tournament championship. OC went 25-20 on the season for their best record since the baseball program returned in 2008.
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