OKLAHOMA CITY (March 29, 2019) – Oklahoma Christian's late-inning magic proved enough to give the Eagles one comeback win on Friday afternoon, but not two.

OC, ranked seventh in the South Central Region, scored six runs in its final two at-bats to rally for a 7-5 win over Texas A&M International in the opening game of their Heartland Conference baseball series at Dobson Field. But the Dustdevils built a 9-0 lead in the second game and held on to win 11-9 despite a late OC surge.

OC (19-8, 3-2 Heartland) and TAMIU (10-21, 1-4) will play the decisive game of the series on Saturday at noon.

The Dustdevils jumped on OC ace Gabe Rodery in the first game. Matthew Rosales, who hit two home runs in the doubleheader, connected on a solo shot in the second inning and a three-run fifth inning, keyed by a two-run double by Jorge Napoles, put TAMIU up 5-1. But Rodery (5-0) toughed it out and made it through six innings to pick up the pitching win.

The Eagles knocked out TAMIU starter Andrew Hernandez in the fifth and Blake Empkey's two-run single up the middle off reliever Kenneth Saenz pulled OC within 5-3.

In the sixth, Saenz walked OC's first two batters and Justin Diaz (0-1) replaced him on the mound. With two outs, No. 9 hitter Braden Bafaro hit a two-run double to right field to tie the game. Hunter Markwardt reached on an infield single and stole second base, and Bafaro and Markwardt scored on a single to right field by Callen Crockett.

OC closer Jared Price recorded his seventh save with a hitless seventh inning.

Every TAMIU starter had at least one hit in the second game as the Dustdevils had 17 hits in all, including home runs from Andrew Holsey, Napoles and Rosales. Rosales' two-run shot in the third inning out TAMIU ahead 9-0.

Empkey's second homer of the season, which curled just inside the left-field foul pole, highlighted a three-run third inning that pulled OC within 9-3. Napoles hit a solo home run in the sixth but OC had three more runs in the seventh, one scoring on a double by Grant Lake.

TAMIU extended its lead to 11-6 in the top of the eighth thanks to a run-scoring triple by Mathew Trevino before OC's final push. The Eagles scored twice in the eighth and after singles by Abe Spencer and Berry Hunt to open the ninth, OC brought the potential tying run to the plate.

But TAMIU freshman J.J. Sanchez, making only his second career appearance, escaped the jam allowing only one run, that on a single up the middle by Bavester. Sanchez retired Markwardt on a ground ball to end the game and record his first save.

TAMIU starter Andrew Pavon (2-1) lasted 6 1/3 innings to earn the pitching win while OC starter Conner Litterell (2-1) took the loss.

Game highlights: https://youtu.be/osrc-CuMqXo