FORT WORTH, Texas (Feb. 7, 2019) – Oklahoma Christian baseball coach Lonny Cobble hoped to use the first couple of weeks of the season to learn about his team's strengths and figure out how the Eagles could be a competitive team going forward.

What he's finding out is the Eagles are really competitive right now.

The Eagles stayed unbeaten at 5-0, rolling past Newman (Kan.) 14-4 and Oklahoma Baptist 10-7 on Thursday in the Alpine Fresh 4Him Classic in north Texas. OC's 5-0 start is its best since the program was reborn with the 2008 season. During that stretch, the Eagles have beaten two teams that made last season's NCAA Division II tournament, Central Oklahoma and OBU.

Against Newman (0-1) – a familiar Heartland Conference rival, although Thursday's game won't count in the league standings – the Eagles started quickly while playing at The Depot at Cleburne Station in Cleburne, Texas. OC led 13-0 after four innings, scoring four runs in the first inning, five in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth.

Senior Garrett Wages led OC's 13-hit attack, going 4 for 4 with three RBIs, including a two-run triple in the second inning. Alex Garcia had a pair of hits while Kevin Collyar and Austin Stokes each drove in two runs. Newman starter Roger Wilson (0-1) only lasted two innings.

Meanwhile, OC starter Connor Litterell (1-0) pitched five innings, allowing the Jets only a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning. The game ended after seven innings due to the 10-run rule in place for the 4Him Classic.

The Eagles then traveled to All Saints Episcopal High School in Fort Worth to face longtime rival OBU (2-2) and again started fast, jumping to an 8-0 lead after three innings.

OC took advantage of a key Bison error to lead 3-0 after the first against starter A.J. Merkel (0-1). In the second, the Eagles had four hits, including a three-run homer by Callen Crockett and a RBI double by Garcia.

OBU pulled within 8-3 but OC starter Gabe Rodery (1-0) finished off his six-inning stint with a shutout inning. The Bison kept edging closer against OC's bullpen, coming with 10-7 in the ninth thanks to a three-run homer by Jake Gozzo, but Julien Ly retired OBU's final two batters to finish off the win.

Garcia finished 3 for 4 while Blake Empkey, Collyar and Errett Edwards each had two hits for the Eagles. Crockett finished with four RBIs, also delivering a fifth-inning sacrifice fly.

OC will face another 2018 national-tournament team on Friday, facing defending South Central Region champion Texas A&M-Kingsville at 9 a.m. in Cleburne. After that game, OC should learn its opponent for Saturday's final game in the event, which is hosted by Colorado Christian.