Game one box
Game two box

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Feb. 26, 2009) – Oklahoma Christian University used a walkoff single from Josh Balch to beat Science and Arts of Oklahoma 7-6 in the first game of a doubleheader at Dobson Field on Thursday.

The Drovers came back to win the second game 8-5 after scoring four runs in the seventh inning.

The split takes Oklahoma Christian to 2-3 in the Sooner Athletic Conference and 6-7 overall. OC and USAO (16-2, 4-1 SAC) complete their three-game series with a nine-inning game in Chickasha tomorrow.

The Eagles got five scoreless innings from starting pitcher Ryan Kirk in the opener, and it was 6-0 OC after the Eagles erupted for six runs in the bottom of the third.

Jordan Price singled in Chance Nichols to break the scoreless tie. Then Tyler Gipson roped an opposite-field homer down the right-field line that pushed three more across to make it 4-0 OC. Then with two outs, Balch sent a double into left field that plated Justin Ebert and Ryan Harper to give the Eagles a 6-0 cushion.

The Drovers got to Kirk for one run in the sixth, then things got interesting in the seventh. Six USAO hitters came to the plate before an out was recorded, and after getting into the Eagles' bullpen, the visitors tied the game at 6-6 when cleanup hitter Brandt Lierle blasted a two-run shot out to right.

But OC reliever Brady Hamar – who came on with no outs and the score tied at 6-6 – got the Eagles out of the inning to set up the bottom half.

OC catcher Jeff Davis worked a leadoff walk before being replaced on the base paths by Harper. After a sacrifice bunt by freshman Cody Carpenter and an intentional pass to Chris Miller, Balch stepped in with one out and Harper in scoring position at second. The second baseman laced a hard single through the right side, and Harper slid under USAO catcher Luke Krobath's tag to give the Eagles' the one-run victory.

Balch finished game one 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Davis was also 2-for-3, while Long went 2-for-4 in the opener. OC outhit USAO 10-8.

Kirk received a no-decision despite pitching six solid innings. The senior left-hander struck out five and surrendered three runs on five hits. Hamar (2-1) got the win relief with after getting three outs in the seventh.

Game two saw OC grab a 5-3 lead after four innings. The Eagles got single-run outputs in the second and third frames before sending three runs across in the fourth. David Garner had a RBI groundout, Price ripped a RBI double, and Long hit an RBI single to give the Eagles a two-run lead through four.

But USAO scored once in the sixth, and four times in the seventh to pick up the come-from-behind victory.

The Eagles outhit the Drovers 10-8 in the second game as well. Tyler Sutton started for OC and went six innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits. The Millington, Tenn., product struck out four Drovers.

Quaid Johns went 3-for-4 in the second game, including a RBI double in the second inning. Zac Coshow went 2-for-4, while a total of eight Eagles notched a hit in the setback. Hamar (2-2) suffered the loss in relief after giving up four runs in two-thirds of an inning.

-OC-