Box Score GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Feb. 5, 2017) – Two days of offensive frustration ended Sunday afternoon for Oklahoma Christian against East Central in the AirHogs Division II Classic.
The Eagles jumped on ECU for five second-inning runs, eventually built a seven-run lead and cruised to a 7-3 win at AirHogs Stadium. OC finished the four-game event – held at the site of this year's NCAA Division II Championship – with a 2-2 record.
After a 15-5 rout of Missouri Western in the opener on Thursday, the Eagles scored one run combined in losses to Washburn (Kan.) on Friday and Southern Arkansas on Saturday. But against East Central (0-4), the Eagles took advantage of an error by the Tigers to plate five runs in the second inning.
Jake Baxter led off the inning with a single to left field and
Ryan Ward followed with a bunt single before each moved up on a wild pitch by ECU's Dylan Sanchez (0-1). East Central shortstop Trevor Huie's throwing error on a grounder by
Josh Garbrecht scored Baxter and Ward.
Chase Kuwitzky followed with a RBI single to make it 3-0 and before the inning ended,
Isaac Holt and
Lane Paul added run-scoring singles for the Eagles. The Tigers replaced Sanchez before the third inning began.
OC made it 7-0 in the fourth against reliever Shae Edmonds, with Holt delivering a RBI double to left-center field and Paul hitting a sacrifice fly.
The Tigers got on the board on a bases-loaded double by J.T. Stevenson in the fourth that pulled them within 7-3, but otherwise, OC starter
Kolton Brown (1-0) was solid. The senior right-hander, who missed the 2016 season due to injury, allowed six hits and struck out four batters in six innings.
OC relievers
Peyton Blass,
Joe Dell Williams and
Jake Moore each pitched a scoreless inning, allowing only one hit between them.
OC will be off until Friday, when the Eagles will visit longtime rival Oklahoma Baptist for a single game at 3 p.m. The Eagles and Bison will play a doubleheader at OC on Saturday starting at 1 p.m., which will start a 17-game homestand for the Eagles.
