LAREDO, Texas (Feb. 16, 2020) – Trailing after six innings on Sunday at Jorge Haynes Field, Oklahoma Christian needed a spark and it came in a most unusual way, mostly by 90 feet at a time.

The Eagles scored seven runs in the seventh inning on just two hits – taking advantage of wildness by Texas A&M International pitchers – and pulled away for a 12-6 win over the Dustdevils.

The win gave OC (3-7, 3-7 Lone Star Conference) a series win over TAMIU (3-7, 3-7) after the Eagles started the baseball season with six straight losses, albeit to league powers Texas A&M-Kingsville and Angelo State (Texas).

TAMIU scored three runs in the third inning off OC starter Ty Dudley and added another in the fourth to go ahead 4-2, then brought in reliever Andrew Pavon to pitch the seventh inning. Pavon walked Kevin Collyar, then threw a wild pitch, then walked Blake Empkey before exiting in favor of Cesar Lartigue (0-1).

Grant Lake, the first batter to face Lartigue, reached on an error as Collyar scored. Lartigue then intentionally walked Michael DiFiore to load the bases, but then walked Cole Lee to force in a run, tying the game, and hit Tanner White with a pitch, putting the Eagles ahead 5-4.

TAMIU turned to another reliever, Bryce Faust, who struck out Coleton Hinkle, but then walked Austin McCain to force in another run. To that point, the Dustdevils had issued five walks, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch in the inning. But the Eagles weren't done yet, as Julien Ly delivered a two-run single to right field and Collyar followed with a run-scoring double to give the Eagles a 9-4 lead.

Hinkle's two-run triple keyed a three-run eighth that extended OC's lead to 12-4. The Dustdevils tacked on a pair of unearned runs in the ninth off OC reliever Jake Tomcheck (1-0), who otherwise didn't allow a run in 4 innings.

Ly drove in three runs, while Hinkle and McCain had two RBIs each. Every OC starter who batted recorded at least one hit, with Collyar going 3 for 5. TAMIU ended up using eight pitchers.

The Eagles will return home to face fellow LSC newcomer Texas-Tyler for a four-game series starting Friday at Dobson Field in Oklahoma City. The Patriots are off to a 9-1 start in their first season in NCAA Division II, with series wins over conference foes Tarleton State (Texas), Arkansas-Fort Smith and Eastern New Mexico.