OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University took a 5-4 loss to Northwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday at Jim Wade Stadium.

The Stars, ranked second in NAIA baseball, fell to 40-6, 17-5 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Northwestern went to 25-19, 10-12 in the SAC.

Northwestern took an early 5-1 lead. Anthony Cros pounded a solo home run in the first, then a grand slam in the second inning. The Rangers made that lead hold up.

Jason Machado drove in Steve Vitale for OCU's first run in the first. Sammy Lee nailed a two-run homer to left field to cut the Stars' deficit to 5-3 in the third, driving in Kirk Walker, who had doubled ahead of Lee.

Lee drove in another OCU run with a groundout in the sixth.

The Stars loaded the bases in the eighth inning, drawing two walks from Matt Stratton. Andrew Ford came on to end OCU's threat by getting B.J. Wheeler to ground out.

Ford worked a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth to nail down the Northwestern win and his fourth save of the year. Chase Phelps (6-2) picked up the win, working five innings and striking out five.

Northwestern dealt David Odquist his first loss of the year. Odquist, a senior left-hander from Midwest City, Okla., went to 7-1. Odquist worked seven innings and allowed five runs on three hits and four walks. Odquist struck out six. Dustin Williams worked the final two innings, setting Northwestern down in order and striking out four.

Lee, a senior from Ninnekah, Okla., drove in three runs. Machado, a senior from Frisco, Texas, went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Wheeler, a senior from Abilene, Texas, was 2-for-4, and Walker, a sophomore from Bakersfield, Calif., went 2-for-3.

The Stars face Northwestern at 1 p.m. Saturday in Alva, Okla.

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