WICHITA, Kan. (April 12, 2019) – Poor defense put Oklahoma Christian in a hole on Friday at McCarthy Field, but thanks in good part to Brendon Bavester and Grant Lake, the Eagles produced just enough offense to complete a doubleheader sweep over Newman (Kan.).

OC committed seven errors, but Bavester, OC's No. 9 hitter, drove in three runs and Lake's RBI double down the right-field line keyed a  two-run ninth inning that lifted the Eagles to a 9-8 win. In the opener, Alex Garcia homered and drove in three runs as OC won 9-4.

OC (24-12, 7-4 Heartland Conference) moved within a half-game of tying Rogers State for second place in the league baseball standings. The Eagles, ranked ninth in the South Central Region, will go for the series sweep Saturday at 11 a.m. at Newman (13-21, 1-10).

In the opener, the Eagles didn't commit and error and broke through against Newman starter Ryan Boaz (3-2) in the fourth inning, with RBI doubles by Kevin Collyar and Berry Hunt keying a three-run outburst. OC scored three more runs in the fifth, two on Garcia's home run, and three more in the sixth, with Callen Crockett and Blake Empkey delivering run-scoring singles.

OC starter Gabe Rodery (6-1) carried a two-hit shutout into the ninth before running into trouble, but the junior left-hander held on to post his fourth complete game of the season while striking out five batters.

As good as the Eagles' defense was in the first game, it was awful in the second game. The seven errors – the second-highest total of the season – resulted in five unearned runs for Newman.

OC twice saw leads wiped out due to unearned runs. The Eagles led 4-0 after the top of the fourth, but Newman rallied to tie the game 4-4 through five innings. OC eased ahead 6-4 in the sixth on a two-run double down the left-field line by Bavester, but an error in the bottom of the inning opened the door for Newman to score three runs and Paul Rupnik's double put the Jets up 7-6.

Hunter Markwardt stole four bases in the game and it was his speed that allowed the Eagles to tie the game. He drew a two-out walk in the eighth off Newman reliever Jacob Stramel (0-3) and when Stramel threw the ball away on a pickoff attempt, Markwardt advanced to second, then scored on a throwing error by Newman first baseman Mitchell Austin.

In the ninth, Garrett Wages and Kevin Collyar each hit an infield single with one out. Wages scored on Lake's double and Collyar scored on a wild pitch by Stramel to make it 9-7.

That insurance run proved important, as Newman scored in the ninth thanks to a walk, a wild pitch and a RBI single by Connor Langrell, but OC closer Jared Price – with the potential tying run at third base – coaxed a fly ball out of pinch-hitter Mason Nagle to end the game and seal his eighth save of the season.

Chase Berberich (5-2) picked up the pitching win, allowing only one hit in two innings of shutout relief.

Markwardt had a hit in both games, extending his hitting streak to 22 games.