DURANT, Okla. – Mark Purser powered Oklahoma City University past nationally-ranked Southeastern Oklahoma State 8-6 on Tuesday at the Ballpark in Durant.

Purser, a junior from Spokane, Wash., pounded a two-run home run in the eighth inning, then took the mound in the ninth and struck out the side for his second save of the year.

OCU, ranked third in NAIA baseball, improved to 19-6 on the season. Southeastern recently broke into the Collegiate Baseball rankings, moving to 23rd in NCAA Division II.

Purser was 1-for-4 with a stolen base, while Steve Vitale went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Kirk Walker was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a run driven in, and Terrance Jackson went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Garrett Regan went 2-for-5.

Matt Presley staked OCU to a 6-2 advantage by cranking a three-run blast over the right-field fence. Presley, a junior from Colorado Springs, Colo., capped a five-run second for the Stars.

Walker poked an RBI single to left, and Vitale had a sacrifice fly in the second. Vitale brought in OCU's first run with a first-inning double.

Cody Crabaugh earned the win to move to 2-1. Crabaugh, a freshman from Edmond, Okla., entered in the seventh, then picked off a runner and got a flyout to end the inning.

Zac Coplon protected the Stars' lead with a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Jackson worked the first 6.1 innings.

OCU faces Hastings (Neb.) at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Jim Wade Stadium.
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