MASON, Ohio (May 19, 2015) – Kelby Reneau learned early in his college career never to take baseball for granted. A suspension coupled with a 25-game losing streak will do that to a player.

Sometimes the hardest lessons are the ones you learn the most from, and Reneau is living proof. After the rough start to his career, the senior left-hander from Edmond persevered, and through hard work and diligence, made himself into a key member of Oklahoma Christian's pitching rotation.

It wouldn't be surprising to see Reneau start for the Eagles on Wednesday morning in their National Christian College Athletic Association World Series opener against Bethesda (Calif.) at Prasco Park. It would be appropriate for him to enjoy that honor, as he is the last man standing from the group of players that stuck it out through what turned into a difficult 2012 season.

"It's weird that there's no one left but me," Reneau said. "I have been fortunate to play for two coaches who both are players' coaches. I was really fortunate that coach (Chuck) White stuck behind me and supported me. Coach Cobble didn't hold anything against me. I will always appreciate that."

That Reneau even had the chance to play college baseball is surprising. He enjoyed a solid career at Edmond North High School, but White – still in the process of rebuilding an OC program that was revived in 2008 – was the only college coach who seriously recruited Reneau, particularly after an injury ended Reneau's senior season before it began.

"He still gave me a scholarship offer," Reneau said. "I really couldn't tell you why. I'm really fortunate that he did. I couldn't thank coach White enough for that. That showed this is where I was meant to be."

But before Reneau competed for the Eagles, he served an 18-game suspension for a violation of team rules. It's a time in his life Reneau said forced him to make some tough decisions, and one he harkens back to now, when he sees a teammate venturing off the straight-and-narrow. The lesson he tries to impart is simple – don't do what I did.

"It was a horrible feeling," Reneau said. "I can't even explain how that felt. It was stupid and irresponsible and I had a lot of growing up to do. Unfortunately, it took a pretty hard punishment to get my attention. I shouldn't have to learn like that, but I did."

To complicate matters, by the time Reneau returned, the Eagles were mired in a losing streak that kept growing and growing. One day while Reneau was pitching against Northwestern Oklahoma State, the Eagles loaded the bases early in the game on three straight singles to start an inning.

The fourth batter hit another ball that appeared destined to also reach the outfield – before it hit the runner coming off second base. Under scoring rules, it was a basehit – OC's fourth of the inning – but the runner who was hit was out and the other runners could not advance. The next batter hit into a double play, ending the inning. With luck like that, it's not surprising the Eagles didn't score a run during the three-game series and eventually finished 8-34.

"It's not like we didn't give an effort," Reneau said. "I can tell you, there were ways that we had lost that I have never seen before. I don't know if it was bad luck or what. It was just the weirdest season I had ever been a part of. You learn a lot from that. You learn how to handle losing and failure. It taught me to not take baseball for granted. You realize how fun baseball was when you start winning again."

Another 2012 freshman, Luke Sandoval, ended the streak with a complete-game pitching win over Central Oklahoma. Sandoval has been Reneau's teammate for their entire careers, but injuries short-circuited the right-handed pitcher's senior season, leaving Reneau as the only OC four-year senior to make the trip to Ohio for the national tournament.

White left after the 2012 season and Cobble took over. One of the first challenges the new coach issued to Reneau was to drop some weight, and Reneau heeded the advice. Once at 235 pounds, the 6-foot-2 Reneau slimmed down to 190 pounds before coaches told him he was getting too thin. Now he's at a comfortable 210 pounds.

"He has worked hard for us," Cobble said. "I give him credit for that."

Reneau broke into the starting rotation during his sophomore season in 2013, going 2-4 with a 4.53 ERA and two complete games. As a junior, he was 5-1 with a 5.19 ERA. OC won the NCCAA Central Region title both years to qualify for the NCCAA World Series, with Reneau starting and earning the win against McMurry (Texas) in the regional title game in 2014.

This season, as OC's No. 2 starter, he leads the Eagles in innings pitched (76 1/3) and despite a stellar 3.18 ERA, has a deceptive 4-7 record. In one game against Texas A&M International, he threw 8 1/3 innings and left the game with the score tied. He took losses to Texas-Permian Basin and St. Mary's (Texas) despite allowing a combined two earned runs in 15 1/3 innings those two games.

"It seems like our team has played good in the first game of a doubleheader and he always throws the second game," Cobble said. "We haven't always given him the run support or played defense behind him. If we could have scored five or six runs a game for him, his record would be off the charts. I know it bothers him, but he doesn't dwell on his record. He just wants to be part of a winner, and he is."

Reneau is coming off one of his finest performances, having struck out a career-high 10 strikeouts and allowed no earned runs in six innings as OC beat Dallas Christian (Texas) 10-2 in the region tournament in Conway, Ark.

"He just pitches," Cobble said. "He doesn't try to strike people out. He just goes out and gets the job done. In Arkansas, I don't know if his adrenaline was flowing or what, but that was as hard as I've ever seen him throw. I'd like to see him do that again this week."