OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 5, 2021) – One strike away from a game and series win, Oklahoma Christian left Dobson Field frustrated on Friday against St. Mary's (Texas).

St. Mary's took advantage of a favorable balk call to tie the game in the ninth inning and two mistakes by OC in the 12th inning to edge the Eagles 6-5 in the second game of a doubleheader. The Rattlers rolled past OC 18-7 in the first game and the sweep gave them the overall win in the baseball series.

OC (1-2, 1-2) had trouble quieting the bats of St. Mary's (2-1, 2-1) on Thursday, although the Eagles had slightly more firepower and prevailed 16-15. OC wasn't so fortunate in the first game Friday as the Rattlers pounded out 21 hits in eight innings to win via the 10-run rule.

Mitchell Caskey went 6 for 6 for St. Mary's in the game and drove in seven runs as the Rattlers scored in every inning but one. OC starter Ty Dudley (0-1) didn't make it out of the second inning, while St. Mary's starter Zach DeLaGarza (1-0) picked up the pitching win, allowing six runs in five innings of work. Michael DiFiore led OC, going 3 for 4 with a home run.

The second game turned into more of a pitchers' duel. St. Mary's starter Mason Minister had recorded two outs in the seventh inning before OC rallied to take a 4-3 lead on a single by Kevin Collyer, a RBI triple by Blake Empkey and a double by Errett Edwards – after the Rattlers had intentionally walked DiFiore.

In the ninth, Empkey moved from right field to the pitching mound to try and finish off the win. He surrendered a leadoff double to Johnny Hernandez, who moved to third base on a groundout by Caskey. Empkey had two strikes on Brandon Broughton, but then was called for a balk, bringing home Hernandez with the tying run.

The Rattlers went ahead in the top of the 10th inning when Mac Papini singled home Mauro Bustamante, but OC answered in the bottom of the inning. The Eagles loaded the bases on a single by Chance Westervelt and two-out walks drawn by Coleton Hinkle and Austin McCain. The Rattlers' Connor Schmidt hit Jaren Hill with a pitch to force home pinch-runner Drew Wright with the tying run, but then retired Cole Lee on a groundout to end the threat.

Bustamante reached on an error to start the 12th against OC reliever Cody Johnson (0-1) and was on second base with two outs. Ryan McGowen reached on an infield single and Bustamante scored on a fielding error on the play.

Tanner White singled with one out in the bottom of the 12th but Schmidt (1-1) – who started Friday's game but didn't make it out of the third inning – fanned Zach Sanchez and McCain to end the game.

The Eagles are scheduled to be on the road next week for a three-game series starting Friday at perennial power Lubbock Christian (Texas). OC will return home to host NCAA Division II's No. 1-ranked team, Angelo State (Texas), from Feb. 19-21.