TYLER, Texas (April 16, 2022) – Jaren Hill hit a solo home run and Oklahoma Christian pitchers Isaiah Alvarenga, Matt Shira and Andrew Alonzo combined to limit Texas-Tyler to one run, allowing the Eagles to escape Irwin Field with a 2-1 win on Saturday afternoon.

The win allowed the Eagles to avoid the sweep in a four-game series during which they scored only four runs in 32 innings. OC (19-26, 19-25 Lone Star Conference) remained in seventh place in the league standings, but cannot mathematically move any higher the rest of the baseball season. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season (in two weeks) will make the LSC postseason tournament.

OC has one four-game LSC series remaining, at home next Friday through Sunday against Arkansas-Fort Smith, then will have a bye week in conference play during the final week of the regular season. The Eagles lead a group of six teams (including UAFS) competing for the tournament's final two spots.

Alvarenga (5-3), a two-time LSC pitcher of the week this season, put together another strong start, limiting Texas-Tyler (24-16, 24-16) to one run and four hits in six innings. Shira pitched two scoreless innings in relief, allowing only one hit, and Alonzo recorded his third save, retiring three straight batters (two by strikeout) in the bottom of the ninth after surrendering two singles to open the inning.

OC scored both of its runs in the fifth inning against Texas-Tyler starter Nolan Cox (3-1). Hill, a sophomore from Morrillton, Ark., led off with a solo home run over the left-field wall, his fifth longball of the season. With two outs, Cox hit Jayvien Joseph with a pitch and Blake Empkey followed with a single. Tanner White then reached base on a throwing error by Cox, which also allowed Joseph to score from second base.

Kyle McShaffry pulled the Patriots within 2-1 in the sixth, as his two-out double to left-center field scored Hayden Clearman. With the potential tying run in scoring position, Alvarenga retired Ethan Bedgood on a fly ball to end the threat.

In the seventh, Texas-Tyler's Dylan Blomquist singled to lead off and eventually advanced to third base with two outs, but Shira retired Riley Lambert on a fly ball. In the ninth, McShaffry and Bedgood both singled before Alonzo fanned Blomquist and Carson Cox before Hill, playing third base, caught a short popup by Tanner Roach to end the game.

STATISTICS