OKLAHOMA CITY (March 11, 2019) – In the first meeting between the former Sooner Athletic Conference rivals in four years, Oklahoma City University edged Oklahoma Christian 4-2 on Monday afternoon at OCU's Jim Wade Stadium.
OC (12-4), ranked sixth in NCAA Division II's South Central Region, added the baseball game against NAIA No. 7-ranked OCU (21-3) after having a handful of games postponed or cancelled in recent weeks due to weather.
The Stars took advantage of the opportunity, recording their first win over OC since the 2013 season. The Eagles had swept a pair of games from OCU in both 2014 and 2015.
Tyler Williams gave the Stars an early lead, leading off the second inning with a solo home run down the left-field line off OC starter
Zachary Pape (2-1). OC tied the game in the third when
Callen Crockett doubled to left-center field and eventually scored on a fielder's-choice grounder by
Alex Garcia.
OCU answered right back in the bottom of the third, with Grant Harrison singling down the left-field line, moving to third base on a double by Noah Barks and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Williams, who had three RBIs for the Stars.
Again, OC tied the game.
Kevin Collyar drew a leadoff walk in the fourth inning and
Berry Hunt was hit by a pitch.
Drew Wright's sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base each and Collyer scored on an infield groundout by
Hunter Markwardt.
The Eagles struggled to find traction against OCU's bullpen, though, as four relievers limited OC to four hits over the last five innings. Meanwhile, the Stars took the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Peyton Crispin doubled and scored on a single by Harrison and made it 4-2 in the fifth when Williams' single up the middle scored Elliott Cary, who had led off with a single.
OCU reliever Dylan Grove (3-1) threw 2 2/3 innings with three strikeouts to earn the pitching win.
OC's game Tuesday at Washburn (Kan.) has been postponed due to weather concerns. The Eagles will return to action Friday, hosting Newman (Kan.) for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
