Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (March 10, 2017) – It was death by a thousand cuts for Oklahoma Christian on Friday afternoon against No. 19-ranked Lubbock Christian (Texas).

LCU rode four infield hits in the first two innings to a four-run lead and OC never rallied, falling 6-2 at Dobson Field in the decisive game of the first Heartland Conference series of the baseball season for both teams.

OC (12-10, 1-2 Heartland) struggled to deliver big hits with runners on base, while Lubbock Christian (15-7, 1-1) routinely did so, particularly in the first two innings, when the Chaparrals built their lead.

Brandon Rix reached on an error in the first for LCU and moved around the bases on infield singles by Tony Reyes and Caleb Koedyker. In the second, the Chaparrals had four hits off OC starter Kolton Brown (2-3), including two more infield singles, to go with two sacrifice flies. That produced three more runs.

Meanwhile, LCU starter Russell Reber (5-0) kept the Eagles off balance all day, scattering eight hits while going the distance. Down 5-0 in the fifth, OC finally got on the scoreboard when Lane Paul singled home Garrett Wages, but LCU right fielder Brandon Urquizo threw out OC's Hayden Strobel at the plate on the play, ending the inning.

OC trailed 6-1 entering the ninth when Drew Wright doubled down the left-field line and scored on Ryan Ward's one-out single, but Reber settled down to retire the next two batters and finish the game. He struck out four batters and walked none.

The Eagles will play two road nonconference games against local foes next week, visiting Southern Nazarene on Tuesday and Central Oklahoma on Wednesday, before heading south for a three-game series against another Heartland power, St. Mary's (Texas), that will start on Friday.