OKLAHOMA CITY (April 17, 2021) – After a rough first inning in which he surrendered two quick runs, Oklahoma Christian ace pitcher Gabe Rodery settled down, and that proved to be bad news for No. 24-ranked Texas-Tyler on Saturday at Dobson Field.

Rodery and reliever Noah Bates blanked the Patriots the rest of the way and OC's offense scraped together enough runs to put the Eagles ahead en route to a 5-2 win in the rain-delayed opening game of a critical three-game Lone Star Conference baseball series.

OC (19-10, 16-9 LSC) has won 11 of its last 12 games and is chasing Texas-Tyler (21-10, 20-8) for third place in the LSC standings. The Patriots, who had lost only once in 10 road games this season before Saturday, will play a doubleheader against OC starting at noon on Sunday.

Rodery (7-0), a senior left-hander from Verdigris, long has been the Eagles' bellcow, but he's had a few rough outings in recent weeks despite maintaining his perfect record. It didn't start well for him against the Patriots, as he gave up a leadoff single to Riley Jepson, a double to Kyler Bumstead and then a two-run double to Kyle McShaffry, putting the Eagles in an early hole.

But after walking the next batter, Rodery retired the next 10 Patriots and didn't allow another hit until the fifth inning. He pitched six innings, surrendering five hits and striking out five batters before giving way to Bates.

OC rallied against Texas-Tyler starter Jacob Blatney (3-1). Blake Empkey's RBI single in the bottom of the first cut the Patriots' lead in half and Empkey scored on an error in the third inning to tie the game. With two outs in the fifth, Lake delivered a two-out, two-run single to left field to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead.

Texas-Tyler loaded the bases against Bates in the seventh inning with two outs, but he struck out Edward Ortiz looking to end the threat. The Patriots advanced a runner to third base with two outs in the eighth but Bates fanned Jepson. Bates ended up with six strikeouts in his three innings, picking up his fourth save of the season. Texas-Tyler had just three hits over the final eight innings.

Jaren Hill provided a bit of insurance for Bates and OC with a solo home run that sailed into the wind while going over the left-field fence in the eighth inning. It was the 52nd home run this season for the Eagles, who lead the LSC and are tied for sixth in NCAA Division II in that statistical category.