OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 25, 2019) – With the wind howling out of the south – and toward left field at Dobson Field – scoring conditions were optimal for Oklahoma Christian's baseball home opener and the Eagles took full advantage.

Alex Garcia homered twice, Errett Edwards added another longball and OC rolled up season highs in hits (17) and runs during a 17-7, eight-inning run-rule win over Cameron on Monday.

Six different players for OC (8-2) had at least two hits as the Eagles beat Cameron (6-8) for the second time in as many days, although a 3-1 loss to William Jewell (Mo.) on Sunday did drop the Eagles two spots to No. 9 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's weekly South Central Region Poll that came out Monday.

After not playing for 16 days, OC is in the midst of a grueling stretch in which the Eagles are scheduled to play eight games in six days, but coach Lonny Cobble said the team's attitude is to bring it on.

"We were going to play eight games in seven days and now it's turned into eight games in six days," he said. "We really have a true test in front of us, but I would rather be doing this than have the 16-day layoff after such a hot start and trying to find (that momentum) again."

The Eagles pounded Cameron starter Brody Curry (0-1) for five runs in the first inning. Blake Empkey delivered a two-run triple ahead of Garcia's first homer, a two-run, opposite-field blast carried by the 20 mph wind over the left-field wall. Edwards' solo home run in the third inning was a no-doubter and made it 6-0.

"We got off to a quick start," Cobble said. "It kind of sparks everybody. We got home late last night (from Lawton) and I didn't really know how we'd respond. We really came out swinging the bats. It's not hard to pitch when your offense gives you five runs (that early)."

Cameron also had a pair of home runs, including a three-run shot by Pierce Khan in the fourth off OC starter Zachary Pape (2-0) that pulled the Aggies within 6-4. But OC answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the fifth, two on a two-out single by Drew Wright, who later scored on a double by Hunter Markwardt that put OC ahead 11-4.

A two-run homer by Colton Adams off the left-field foul pole keyed a three-run sixth for Cameron and the Aggies, down 11-7, brought the tying run to the plate before reliever Berry Hunt struck out Hayden Jaco.

It was all Eagles from then on. Kevin Collyer's three-run double down the left-field line led to a five-run sixth inning for OC and Garcia's one-out solo homer in the seventh put the Eagles ahead by 10 runs, ending the game via the run rule. With three home runs in 10 games, Garcia already has matched his 2018 season total in that category.

Empkey, Edwards and Garrett Wages each had three hits while Markwardt, Garcia and Collyer had two apiece.

Khan finished with four RBIs for the Aggies, who committed six errors to go with OC's 17 hits.

OC will host local rival Central Oklahoma on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and have a home game scheduled with Emporia State (Kan.) at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Due to weather concerns, the Eagles' series with Rogers State was moved up a day, with the teams scheduled to play a single game Thursday at 2 p.m. and a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m.

Rogers State is at No. 8 in the NCBWA South Central Region poll, which featured a top five of Colorado Mesa, West Texas A&M, Dixie State (Utah), Colorado Mines and Angelo State (Texas). Lubbock Christian (Texas) was the highest-ranked Heartland Conference team. Another Heartland team, St. Mary's (Texas), was at No. 10.

Lonny Cobble discusses the game: https://youtu.be/IYN3OzFr68U

Game highlights: https://youtu.be/aQy2NBohu1g