OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University tallied seven runs in the third inning to pick up an 8-4 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State, and sweep the doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Jim Wade Stadium.
The Stars, ranked third in NAIA baseball, out-slugged Northwestern 14-9 in game one of the twin bill. OCU improves to 23-6, 8-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
Mike Richard, a junior from Walla Walla, Wash., went the distance on the mound for OCU in game two. After surrendering three runs on four hits in the first inning, Richard gave up just one run on six hits over the final six innings. Richard struck out five batters to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Northwestern jumped out to a 4-0 advantage before OCU took the lead in the third inning with seven runs. Scott Dalrymple and Brian Fisher opened the inning with back-to-back home runs to cut the lead to 4-2.
Kirk Walker followed with a double to left-center, Steve Vitale walked and Matt Presley ripped a two-RBI double to the right-center gap. Presley, a junior from Colorado Springs, Colo., has recorded a team-high 51 RBIs on the season.
Garrett Regan tripled in Presley to give OCU the lead at 5-4. Regan scored on a passed ball, then Dalrymple drove in his second run of the inning on a fielder’s choice make the score 7-4.
The Stars added a run in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Mark Purser. Fisher, Walker, Regan and Purser each had two hits for OCU in game two.
In the first game, OCU battled back from an early 6-0 deficit. The Stars cranked out 14 runs on 12 hits, including five home runs in the game. Nate Bryan, a junior from Andrew, Texas, ripped two homers and had four RBIs.
Trailing 9-7 in the fifth inning, the Stars scored four times to take the lead for good. Bryan had the big hit in the inning, a three-run shot to give OCU a 10-9 lead. Dearth Parker added a three-run bomb in the sixth inning to help the Stars build a five-run lead.
Cody Crabaugh, a freshman from Edmond, Okla., picked up his third victory of the season with four innings of relief. Crabaugh allowed three runs on six hits in relief of Clint Maune, who lasted just one inning.
The Stars got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Presley doubled home a run. Bryan homered in the second inning to cut the Northwestern lead to 7-2.
The Stars face Northwood (Texas) on Tuesday in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. at Jim Wade Stadium.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore