Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (March 31, 2015) – Strong offense early and solid relief pitching late proved to be a winning combination for Oklahoma Christian on Tuesday night against crosstown rival Oklahoma City University.
The Eagles jumped out to a four-run lead after two innings and never trailed, but needed
Garett Hill to slam the door shut in the final two innings to hang on for a 7-6 win over OCU at Dobson Field.
OC (19-11), ranked No. 10 in the NCAA Division II's South Central Region, won its third straight game against OCU (27-8), a squad ranked No. 5 in the NAIA. The schools were both members of the Sooner Athletic Conference from 1986 through 2012, before OC left the NAIA to begin the Division II membership process.
The Eagles led 1-0 after
Ben McKenzie's RBI single scored
Zac Cobble, who drew a leadoff walk in the first inning from OCU starter Skylar Janisse (2-3). OC went up 4-0 in the second after a three-run rally keyed by doubles by
Cody Rosecrans and
Chase Kuwitzky.
The Stars scored twice in the second against OC starter
Brennan Walker (2-0), but OC stretched its lead to 5-2 in the fifth when
Kolton Brown delivered a run-scoring single. OCU took advantage of the Eagles' only error to score twice more in the sixth.
Brown answered with a two-run single in the seventh to put OC ahead 7-4. Again, the Stars closed the gap, pulling within 7-6 with a two-run eighth.
Hill came on in the eighth to relieve
Dylon Sturges and recorded the final two outs. Hill gave up a two-out single to Reggie Wilson in the ninth but finished off his second save of the baseball season by coaxing a groundout from Ryan Wright.
Six Eagles had two hits each as OC rolled up 14 total – Cobble,
Derek Jones, McKenzie,
Jackson Matthews, Brown and Rosecrans. Wilson had two hits and two RBIs for the Stars, while Dylan Delso also had two RBIs for the Stars.
OC and OCU will play again next Tuesday at OCU. Before then, OC will host Texas-Permian Basin in a three-game Heartland Conference series on Friday and Saturday, then host Southeastern Oklahoma State in a nonconference game on Monday.
