Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 OKLAHOMA CITY (April 13, 2018) – First the fierce winds came from the south, then from the west, on Friday at Dobson Field. And for much of the day, Newman (Kan.) and Oklahoma Christian engaged in a slugfest, combining for 44 runs and 56 hits in their baseball doubleheader.

OC was the beneficiary in the opener, winning 12-8 thanks to a pair of home runs by Kolton Brown and another by Alex Garcia. But when the wind switched to the northwest during the second game – and stopped favoring the hitters – Newman took advantage, hanging onto an early lead it built and winning 16-8.

OC (17-17, 7-7 Heartland Conference) remained in fourth place in the league despite the split, while Newman (13-23, 5-9) helped keep itself in contention for a potential spot in the league tournament. The teams will play another doubleheader starting at noon Saturday.

Six pitches into the opener, play was halted due to a brief rainstorm, which quickly blew over but still delayed the game 56 minutes. The long delay didn't affect the Eagles' offense, as they scored in all but one of their six at-bats.

Garcia's first homer of the season,  a two-run shot to center field off Newman starter Zachary Erdman (4-5), keyed a three-run second inning that put OC up 4-1. Brown smacked a three-run homer during a four-run third and hit a two-run shot in the fourth that made it 10-3.

Jacob Hanson homered off OC starter Connor Litterell (2-0) in the fifth and the Jets added three runs in the sixth, but reliever Garett Hill came in to close out the game for the Eagles. Brown and Hunter Markwardt (3-for-3) each had three hits for OC.

Newman jumped on OC starter Skyler Martin (4-3) for seven first-inning runs in the second game and the Eagles never quite recovered.

A five-run third inning and a three-run fourth pulled the Eagles within 10-8, but Newman reliever Wade Winter (1-0) allowed only two hits in 3 2/3 innings of work, aided somewhat by the wind shift that kept well-hit fly balls in play, instead of blowing them over the fence.

The Jets kept piling on, pounding out 21 hits against seven OC pitchers. Newman's Aaron Mack went 5-for-6, while Oklahoma City native Brian Canfield went 4-for-5. Callen Crockett went 3-for-4 for OC.