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Gabe Rodery struck out 10 batters while pitching a four-hit shutout against Rogers State.
Gabe Rodery struck out 10 batters while pitching a four-hit shutout against Rogers State.
0
Rogers State RSU 11-3
4
Winner Oklahoma Christian OC 9-2
Rogers State RSU
11-3
0
Final
4
Oklahoma Christian OC
9-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Rogers State RSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Oklahoma Christian OC 0 0 0 2 0 2 X 4 5 1

W: Rodery, Gabe (2-0) L: Corey Murphy (3-2)

3
Rogers State RSU 11-4
5
Winner Oklahoma Christian OC 10-2
Rogers State RSU
11-4
3
Final
5
Oklahoma Christian OC
10-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Rogers State RSU 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 7 0
Oklahoma Christian OC 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 X 5 9 4

W: Litterell, Connor (2-0) L: AJ Deason (1-2) S: Price, Jared (4)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Pitching of Rodery, Litterell lifts Eagles to sweep of Rogers State

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 1, 2019) – Pitching figured to be a strength for Oklahoma Christian as the Eagles entered the baseball season and it showed on a cold Friday afternoon against Rogers State.

Gabe Rodery pitched a four-hit shutout as OC beat the Hillcats 4-0 in the opening game at Dobson Field, and Litterell followed with five strong innings on the mound as the Eagles completed a doubleheader sweep with a 5-3 win.

OC (10-2) entered the doubleheader ranked ninth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association South Central Region rankings, one spot behind Rogers State (11-4). Although the teams are Heartland Conference rivals, the games won't count in the league standings. The Eagles and Hillcats will play their conference series on May 3-4.

Rodery (2-0) gave a masterful performance despite the 29-degree cold. The junior left-hander from Verdigris struck out 10 Hillcats – five of them looking – with no walks and allowed only two runners to advance as far as third base. The 10 strikeouts were just one off his career high, set last season against Newman (Kan.).

The Eagles broke through against Rogers State starter Corey Murphy (3-2) in the fourth inning. With two outs, OC put two runners on base and Alex Garcia followed with a single to right field that scooted under the glove of outfielder Blake Chiaramonte. Blake Empkey scored from second base and the error allowed Errett Edwards to scoot home all the way from first base.

OC added two insurance runs in the sixth. Callen Crockett singled to center field and scored on a double by Empkey, and Edwards walked and eventually scored on a single up the middle by Garrett Wages.

In the second game, OC scored one run in each of the first three innings off Rogers State pitcher A.J. Deason (1-2). Garcia delivered a run-scoring single in the first and Brendon Bavester hit an RBI double in the second.

Grant Farris tied the game in the top of the third for the Hillcats with a two-run homer over the left-field wall, but Litterell (2-0) settled down and retired seven straight batters.

OC started the bottom of the third with consecutive singles by Empkey, Garcia and Wages and Kevin Collyar's sacrifice fly put the Eagles back ahead for good.

Relievers Chase Berberich and Brent McDonald combined to limit the Hillcats to one hit over three innings and the Eagles added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh, on a RBI double by Empkey and a run-scoring infield single by Collyar.

Rogers State scored once in the ninth off closer Jared Price and brought the potential tying run to the plate, but Price fanned Nick Follett to end the game and record his third save of the season.

OC and Rogers State tentatively have scheduled a 2 p.m. game for Saturday, weather permitting.
 
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