EDMOND, Okla. - Five pitchers between both Oklahoma Christian and St. Mary's took the mound in Sunday's series finale, combining for 27 strikeouts. Reliever Tristan Copeland was responsible for 13 of those strikeouts. In the pitcher's duel, the Rattlers plated three runs in the first inning, leading to the 3-1 victory.

Copeland's 13 strikeouts are the most by an OC player since Jacob Mattox matched that number against Arkansas-Fort Smith back on April 22, 2022. That day, Mattox did face 28 batters, issuing three runs on five hits and three walks. Sunday, Copeland faced just 24 batters, allowing one hit and issuing one walk.

22 of the 24 batters the Albuquerque, N.M., native faced were retired; four courtesy of ground-outs, five via fly-outs and 13 by way of strikeout.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, St. Mary's pitchers were having one of those days as well with the Rattlers allowing just two hits. Trey Migl claimed the first hit of the afternoon for OC before Hunter Jones delivered the second.

After St. Mary's chased Oklahoma Christian's starting pitcher following two outs with three runs on three hits, Copeland was brought into the game, virtually putting the lid on the Rattlers' offense for the remainder of the contest. The Rattlers managed just one more hit the final 8.1 innings.

The Eagles were able to get on the board in the bottom of the third without putting a ball in play. Following a lead-off walk from Migl, a ground-out, a throwing error from the pitcher on a failed pick-off attempt and a wild pitch scored the junior outfielder to make the score 3-1.

A true pitchers duel ensued following the score change. Starting in the top of the sixth inning, the next 21 batters between both squads were sat down in order.

Oklahoma Christian threw a quick blip in the standoff with Jones sending a single through the left side in the bottom of the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate. Play returned to its normal programming, however, with the next three Eagles being struck out to give StMU the victory, 3-1.

The Eagles (1-3, 1-3 LSC) will see its first road trip of the young 2025 season when it takes on Lubbock Christian in the Lone Star State for a four-game weekend series Friday, Feb. 14-Sunday, Feb. 16.