OKLAHOMA CITY (April 23, 2022) – Late-inning rallies by Oklahoma Christian fell painfully short twice as Arkansas-Fort Smith swept the Eagles 12-11 and 8-5 in a doubleheader on Saturday at Dobson Field.

The good news for OC (21-28, 21-27 Lone Star Conference) is it's in good shape to make the eight-team field for the LSC postseason baseball tournament, even though the Eagles didn't clinch their berth by winning on Saturday. One more loss by Texas A&M International or St. Mary's (Texas) will be enough to seal a berth for OC.

It's most likely the Eagles will finish seventh, which would mean a first-round playoff series at either West Texas A&M or Angelo State (Texas). OC is finished with LSC regular-season play, while the other 12 teams will play their final league series next week. OC's only remaining regular-season game will be at home on Tuesday against nonconference foe Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Arkansas-Fort Smith (15-25, 15-25) is trying to secure the final spot in the LSC playoff field and the Lions' two wins Saturday keep them in the mix as they battle St. Mary's, TAMIU, Eastern New Mexico and Cameron for eighth place.

The Lions, who entered their four-game series at OC having hit only 16 home runs all year, took advantage of gusty winds blowing out of Dobson Field to hit nine in their four games, including six on Saturday – five of those in the second game. UAFS leadoff hitter Hunter Church had a remarkable day, going 5 for 9 with six RBIs, a double, a triple and two home runs.

In the seven-inning opener, Arkansas-Fort Smith built what seemed to be a comfortable 12-2 lead, but starting pitcher Logan Grant (3-5) ran out of gas in the sixth and the Eagles closed the gap with a seven-run outburst. Jaren Hill started the rally with a three-run home run over the left-field fence and Coleton Hinkle finished it with a two-run homer that made it 12-9.

Cole Lee's solo home with one out in the seventh pulled the Eagles within 12-10 and Tanner White's single to right field scored Blake Empkey, who had doubled. UAFS reliever Jakob Petross hit pinch-hitter Matthew Conerly with a pitch and walked Grant Lake to load the bases before Jayvien Joseph hit a ground ball that third baseman Nolan Riley fielded just a step inside fair territory, and Riley stepped on the base for the final out.

Petross earned his first save with 1 2/3 innings of work. OC starter Kyle Higgins (2-5), who allowed three hits and five runs in three innings, took the loss.

Petross started the second game (a nine-inning contest) and pitched the first two innings. The Eagles took advantage with a three-run second inning, with Tanner White hitting a solo home run and Coleton Hinkle following with a two-run shot.

Arkansas-Fort Smith scored twice in the fifth and went ahead 4-3 on a two-run homer by Church off OC starter Isaiah Alvarenga (5-4). The Lions hit three home runs in the sixth inning – a two-run shot by Cash Balentine and solo shots by Blayse Quarnstrom and Brooks Sunny – to make it 8-3.

UAFS reliever Brayden Ross also pitched in both games. After failing to retire any of the three batters he faced in the opener, he pitched the final five innings of the second game. OC broke through in the eighth inning with a two-run homer by Chance Westervelt to make it 8-5, and with two outs in the ninth, Hill and Lee both singled. But Ross struck out Empkey to end the game, earning a rare five-inning save.

The second of the Lions' three pitchers, Trevor Johnson (1-0), picked up the win.

GAME 1 STATISTICS

GAME 2 STATISTICS