OKLAHOMA CITY (April 11, 2021) – In 2014, West Texas A&M was the first opponent to visit Oklahoma Christian's new Tom Heath Field, and a WT squad that went on to finish 60-7 and win the NCAA Division II title that season pretty much had its way, sweeping the Eagles in a pair of dominating shutouts.

Seven years later, it was the 13th-ranked Eagles doing the sweeping against No. 10 West Texas A&M. On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, OC rolled to a 9-1 run-rule win, then hung on late to complete the sweep to beat the visiting Buffaloes 6-5 in a key Lone Star Conference doubleheader.

OC (27-5, 17-3 LSC) moved into sole possession of second place in the league standings, ahead of No. 4 Texas A&M-Commerce (23-10, 16-4), which split a doubleheader Sunday at No. 12 Texas A&M-Kingsville (22-9, 14-6). OC trails only No. 4 Texas-Tyler (25-5, 19-1) and the Patriots – who are in their final year of transition into NCAA Division II – aren't eligible for the conference tournament. The LSC tournament will be hosted by the highest-finishing eligible team.

OC sophomore right-hander Kali Crandall, who leads NCAA Division II in pitching wins, picked up two more to move to 18-1. The Eagles have won 10 straight games, their longest streak since winning 11 straight during the 2017 season, and now have beaten West Texas A&M (22-10, 10-10) three straight times, including once in the 2019 South Central Regional tournament.

In the opener, the Eagles took advantage of four errors by West Texas A&M. Freshman Kylie Janzen's three-run homer in the first inning off Emilee Wilson (7-5) staked OC to the early lead. In the second inning, the Buffaloes committed three errors, including two on one play that led to two more OC runs.

On that play, Tristyn Hamilton put the ball in play and a throw by third baseman Madison Johnson pulled second baseman Erica Vessels (who was covering first base) off the bag. Meanwhile, Hannah Pate – who had earlier reached on an error by Johnson – rounded second and headed toward third base. Vessels' throw to try and retire Pate sailed into foul territory, allowing Pate to score and Hamilton to motor around the bases, making it 5-0.

Alyx Cordell's RBI single pulled West Texas A&M within 5-1 in the top of the third, but a RBI single by Lindsey Stoeckel highlighted a two-run third for OC and Janzen contributed an RBI single as the Eagles scored twice more in the fourth, making it 9-1. Crandall retired the Buffaloes in order in the fifth, fanning Cordell looking to end the game. Crandall finished with six strikeouts and allowed only four hits.

A two-run, pinch-hit double into the left-field corner by Aaliyah Brown off WT starter Kyra Lair (12-5) put OC ahead 2-1 in the second inning of the second game and Brianna Robinson doubled home Whitney Walde in the fourth to make it 3-1. In the fifth, freshman Brooklin Bain doubled to center to lead off and scored from second base on a bunt single by Brie Dunckel, who then scored on yet another error as the Buffaloes misplayed a sacrifice attempt by Katelyn Dunckel.

Hamilton tripled just inside the left-field line with two outs in the sixth and scored on another double to center field by Bain, making it 6-2. That insurance run proved important.

Crandall relieved OC starter Bailey Turner with two outs in the third inning and went the rest of the way, increasing her pitch total for the day to almost 170. In the seventh, West Texas A&M's Shanna McBroom led off with a solo home run to left field, and one out later, Vessels hit a solo home run just inside the left-field foul pole.

With two outs, Gabi Valforte pulled the Buffaloes within 6-5 with a third solo home run, this one to left-center field. After an error allowed Johnson to reach base, Crandall retired Maddie Geidel on a ground ball to third base to end the game.

The Eagles will be on the road next week, with doubleheaders at LSC foes Texas-Permian Basin on Friday and Western New Mexico on Sunday. OC will close the regular season with three straight home doubleheaders, against Texas-Tyler on April 23, Texas A&M-Commerce on April 25 and Cameron on May 1.