LAWTON, Okla. (April 1, 2022) – Oklahoma Christian used a six-run outburst in its final at-bat on Saturday against Eastern New Mexico to force extra innings and eventually won the baseball game. It looked for a time on Friday that improbable might happen again for the Eagles at Cameron.

Down six runs entering the ninth inning, OC rallied for four runs and had the bases loaded with two outs, but the Aggies managed to hang on for an 8-6 win in the opener of the four-game series between the in-state rivals at McCord Field.

OC (11-23, 11-22 Lone Star Conference) took an early lead when Tanner White doubled home Connor Jackson in the top of the third, but Beau Williams' two-run double in the bottom of the inning put Cameron (11-18, 11-16) ahead for good.

Two errors by the Eagles proved to be their undoing in the fifth inning, as Cameron scored five runs, an outburst highlighted by a two-run home run by Tyler Coleman off OC starter Will Rodman (3-5). Cameron later increased its lead to 8-1 before Jackson's RBI single in the seventh made it 8-2.

OC sent 10 batters to the plate in the ninth. Kevin Collyar had a RBI single, Coleton Hinkle followed with a run-scoring double and Jackson added a RBI single of his own, making it 8-5. A passed ball allowed Hinkle to score. With two outs, Chance Westervelt singled through the left side and Michael DiFiore drew a walk, but Cameron reliever Evan Nichols retired Empkey on a fly ball to end the threat and the game. It was Nichols' first save of the season.

Cameron starter Tyler Cornett (2-2) pitched six innings, recording nine strikeouts, to earn the win.

The Eagles and Aggies will play a pair of seven-inning games on Saturday before closing the series Sunday with a nine-inning contest.