MIDLAND, Texas (April 9, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian's offense was so potent Friday night, the Eagles managed to record a run-rule win despite allowing its opponent double-digit runs.

Eight OC players drove in at least two runs as the Eagles rolled up 20 hits in a 23-13 decision over Texas-Permian Basin at Momentum Bank Park, the home field of the Double-A Midland RockHounds. The 23 runs were the second-most for OC in a baseball game this season and the Eagles now have scored 20-plus runs in multiple games for the first time since 1989.

The offensive standouts were legion for OC (16-9, 14-8 Lone Star Conference), which won its eighth straight game – its longest winning streak since the 2016 season. Chance Westervelt went 5 for 6, scored four times and drove in three runs. Michael DiFiore, the LSC's top RBI producer, had four more and scored three times while going 4 for 5.

Coleton Hinkle also drove in four runs and hit a home run. Grant Lake homered, drove in two runs and scored four times. Jaren Hill contributed two doubles and drove in three runs. And so it went, up and down the OC lineup.

Texas-Permian Basin (10-14, 7-12) also enjoyed plenty of offensive success, with the Falcons rolling up 17 hits and scoring in all but one inning. But OC starting pitcher Gabe Rodery (6-0) endured until the sixth inning, recording nine strikeouts, and limited the Falcons enough to keep the Eagles ahead.

OC jumped on UTPB starter Trever Berg (3-5) for five runs in the first inning, with Tanner White delivering a two-run single to center field and Hill capping the rally with a RBI double down the left-field line.

The Falcons pulled within 5-4 by the fourth inning, but Lake's two-run homer in the fifth extended OC's lead to 7-4. Devin Ferrari answered for the Falcons in the bottom of the inning with a two-run shot of his own before the Eagles jumped on three UTPB relievers for seven runs in the sixth, with DiFiore hitting a two-run single and Hinkle smacking a two-run homer to right-center field.

Three UTPB runs in the bottom of the sixth pulled the Falcons within 15-9 before OC kept up the heat on the UTPB bullpen, scoring eight runs in the seventh. Hinkle hit a two-run single and Blake Empkey a two-run double. That made it 23-9.

Still, the Falcons almost avoided the run rule, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh and putting a runner at third base with two outs before OC reliever Ryan Hill struck out Ferrari to end the inning and the game.

The teams will play again on Saturday at 6 p.m., with the series finale on Sunday.