Despite seeing its 10-game win streak end with a 6-2 loss to Texas A&M International University on Thursday, the Oklahoma Christian University baseball team bounced back from its loss to defeat the Dustdevils in the final two games of the series.
During the series opener, the Dustdevils jumped on the board early, claiming a 4-0 lead by the end of the first inning. Despite outhitting TAMIU 8-7 and posting single runs in the second and fourth innings, the Eagles were unable to overcome the deficit.
Senior Bradley Horn took the loss for Oklahoma Christian on the mound. He finished the game with four strikeouts and allowed six hits before junior Dylan Fazekas relieved him. Fazekas allowed one hit in his two innings of work and struck out three. Senior Derek Jones went 3-4 at the plate, while Kyle Lacy and Ben McKenzie each contributed an RBI to the effort.
The Eagles recovered from their loss in the second game of their doubleheader on Thursday with a 9-0 win over the Dustdevils. The Eagle offensive supplied runs early, scoring five runs in the first inning and four runs in the third.
“After our first game, we knew we had to come back ready to play,” freshman Slater Springman said. “We came out with a lot of energy, hit the ball well and the great pitching we had helped us win the last two games.”
Senior Brennan Walker picked up the win for the Eagles, improving his record to 3-1 with Thursday’s shutout performance. He allowed four hits in his six innings of work and had seven strikeouts. Fellow senior Dylon Sturges relieved Walker for two innings before sophomore Jared Price closed the game for the Eagles.
Offensively, McKenzie tripled to center field in the third, Jared Sterling hit a two-run home run and Alex Polsten doubled to left field, scoring Austin Orth. Jones also went 3-4 at the plate.
The final game of the Eagles’ series against the Dustdevils took place on Friday, as they defeated the Dustdevils 14-5 in Laredo, Texas.
Jake Moore was on the mound for the Eagles, picking up the win after he relieved Sterling after four innings. Moore gave up one hit and sat down seven in his 2.2 innings of work. Senior Garrett Hill replaced Moore and finished the final two innings.
Despite jumping on the boards in the first inning and taking a 2-0 lead, a fourth inning Dustdevil rally tied the game at 3 all. The Eagles continued to add runs the next four innings, making a TAMIU two-run homer in the sixth inning fruitless.
The Eagles outhit the Dustdevils 14-12 and finished the game with three homeruns by Orth, Jones and Fazekas. Polston and Jones each had 3 RBIs, while Jake Baxter added four.
After taking the TAMIU series 2-3 from the Dustdevils, the Eagles currently sit in a three-way tie for third place in the Heartland Conference with a 6-3 record. They improved their overall record to 15-12.
The Eagles will host Southwestern Oklahoma State University at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
Statistics provided by the Oklahoma Christian University Sports Information office.
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