OKLAHOMA CITY (March 26, 2022) – Oklahoma Christian came up with not one, but two dramatic rallies to win its first baseball game against Eastern New Mexico on Saturday at Dobson Field, but unfortunately for the Eagles, a third rally didn't happen.

Blake Empkey's grand slam highlighted a six-run seventh inning and the Eagles put together a two-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Eastern New Mexico 9-8, but the Greyhounds stymied any OC hopes of a sweep by hanging on for a 2-1 win in the second game.

OC (10-21, 10-21 Lone Star Conference) will try to clinch the win in the four-game series against Eastern New Mexico (11-16, 10-15) in a nine-inning game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

In the opener, scheduled for seven innings, the Greyhounds scored twice in the second inning and four times in the third and led 7-1 going into what was supposed to be OC's final at-bat. But Eastern New Mexico starter Damian Acosta ran into trouble. A double to left-center field by Tanner White scored Kevin Collyar (who had singled) and Chance Westervelt drew a bases-loaded walk to pull OC within 7-3.

Empkey greeted the Greyhounds' reliever, William McBride (1-1) with a powerful shot over the right-center field wall to tie the game and force extra innings.

Eastern New Mexico scratched out a run in the top of the ninth off OC reliever Matthew Shira (3-1), with Jack Thompson scoring on a two-out wild pitch after leading off the inning with a single to right field.

OC answered again. White hit a leadoff single to right field and McBride hit Michael DiFiore with a pitch. Westervelt laid down a bunt – attempting to move up the runners – but McBride, who fielded it, looked initially to see if he could pick up a forceout at third base, and by the time his throw to first base arrived, Westervelt had beaten it. Eastern New Mexico coach Riley Price argued the call and was ejected.

With the bases loaded, Empkey hit a ground ball that Eastern New Mexico third baseman Sammy Williamson bobbled. Williamson recovered in time to throw the ball to Thompson, the Greyhounds' catcher, for a forceout at home, but Thompson allowed the throw to scoot by him, allowing pinch-runner Jayvien Joseph and DiFiore to score the tying and winning runs, respectively.

Eastern New Mexico's second-game starter, Ruger Bravo (3-3), entered with an 11.52 ERA and 29 strikeouts and 20 walks in 27 1/3 innings of work this season. But the left-hander stifled the Eagles, allowing only four hits, striking out nine batters and walking only one while going the distance.

OC starter Kyle Higgins (0-3) was the hard-luck loser. He gave up the Greyhounds' only runs in the second inning. With two outs and a runner on third base, Higgins struck out Nick Schifftner but the pitch was wild, allowing Schifftner to reach base and Cooper Hamilton to score. Williamson followed with a run-scoring single to left field to make it 2-0.

The Eagles halved that deficit in the fifth. Collyar led off with a single and went all the way to third base when left fielder Braeton Matthews let the ball get by him and roll toward the wall. Cole Lee followed with a two-out double to score Collyar but was stranded at second base. OC didn't advance a runner past first base during the final two innings.

The loss snapped the Eagles' five-game winning streak in its series against Eastern New Mexico.