OKLAHOMA CITY (May 15, 2021) – The season finale for Oklahoma Christian's baseball team proved to be a microcosm of the Eagles' season – they scored a ton of runs, but simultaneously struggled to get their opponent's batters out.
That Achilles' heel proved costly again on Saturday afternoon, as St. Mary's (Texas) rallied from an eight-run deficit to beat OC 18-15 at Dobson Field to finish a sweep of the best-of-three Lone Star Conference tournament series between the teams.
The marathon game lasted four hours and four minutes and included a whopping 413 pitches – 213 by OC, 200 by St. Mary's. OC (24-16) had 14 hits, including three home runs (two by
Michael DiFiore). But the Eagles also gave up 14 hits to St. Mary's (24-18), which hit four homers and took advantage of 14 walks, two hit batters and two wild pitches by six OC pitchers.
The difference proved to be a disastrous seventh inning for the Eagles, in which St. Mary's scored eight runs on all of two hits (both home runs). OC went through four pitchers, who combined for four walks and a hit batter in the inning. Max Papini's three-run homer in the inning off reliever
Cody Johnson (0-3) put the Rattlers ahead 17-14 and OC never recovered.
"You just can't do that," OC coach
Lonny Cobble said. "You have to make them swing the bat. They were patient and we just didn't throw strikes. Unfortunately, it snowballed on us, and that's where it all went south."
A three-run first inning – highlighted by a two-run homer by
Coleton Hinkle – put OC up 3-2. The Eagles scored seven runs on seven hits in the third, most of them unearned after St. Mary's catcher Brian Juarez dropped a popup in front of home plate with two outs. DiFiore drove in three runs in the inning, one on a solo homer and two more with a single up the middle.
The Eagles led 12-4 after the fourth inning, but starter
Noah Bates tired and gave up five runs in the fifth inning, allowing St. Mary's back in the game.
OC trailed 18-14 entering the ninth inning before DiFiore led off with a solo homer over the center-field wall. It was his 19th home run of the season, tying him with Todd Tyo – who had 19 homers in 1998 – for second place on OC's single-season list in that statistical category, one behind OC legend Clint Vaughn, who hit 20 homers in 1998.
DiFiore, a freshman from Lucas, Texas, ended the season leading the LSC in homers and RBIs (58), although he might be caught in the latter category by players on teams still competing this season.
After DiFiore's homer, St. Mary's reliever Collin Storms (3-4) finished off his 4 2/3-inning stint by striking out Hinkle and
Tanner White looking before pinch-hitter
Austin McCain grounded out to end the game and the season.
Brandon Broughton led St. Mary's offensively, homering and driving in five runs. Fernie Zubia, Papini and Juarez also homered for the Rattlers, who won four of five games at OC this season.
"We got nothing to be ashamed of," Cobble said. "For a team that was picked ninth to start the year in conference and finish fourth. You'd like to have won two or three more games, but it just didn't go our way.
"We've got some good young players. I just want them to keep getting better. They're going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future."
