OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 19 Cumberland (Tenn.) rallied for six runs in the seventh inning to defeat Oklahoma City University 6-3 and sweep the Stars in a doubleheader on Sunday in a battle of top-20 teams at Jim Wade Stadium.
The Stars, ranked third in NAIA baseball, led 3-0 heading into the final inning of game two before giving up three home runs to Cumberland. Max Kautz had the big blast, a three-run shot over the right-field wall to give Cumberland the lead at 5-3. OCU dropped to 16-5 on the season.
Mike Richard, a junior from Walla Walla, Wash., pitched well for the Stars, tossing six innings of scoreless ball before exiting in the seventh inning. Richard gave up a lead-off home run to Kris Miller in the seventh inning, and Zac Coplon came on in relief with OCU leading 3-1. Coplon, a junior from Claremore, Okla., surrendered a home run to Troy Frazier, then walked Brian Karahalios. Danny Gallinot reached on an infield single with one out to place runners on the corners.
Terrance Jackson, a junior from Greenville, Ala., relieved Coplon and got T.J. Murphy to ground out on a bunt attempt. With two outs, Kautz ripped a 1-2 pitch over the right-field wall for the game-winner.
Aaron Wilkerson earned the win with a complete game. Wilkerson allowed two earned runs on seven hits and struck out 12.
The Bulldogs belted four homers in game one to rally past OCU 11-7. The Stars led 7-5 after three innings before Cumberland came back with six unanswered runs.
Chad Carman, Brian Fisher and Dearth Parker each had two hits to lead the way for OCU in the first game. Carmon, a sophomore from Midwest City, doubled to in a run to spark a five-run inning in the third. Jackson followed with a double scoring Drew McAdoo and Garrett Regan to give OCU a 7-5 lead.
Cumberland answered with three runs in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh.
Cody Crabaugh, a freshman from Edmond, Okla., took the loss in relief, giving up three runs on four hits in 2.1 innings pitched.
The Stars will return to Sooner Athletic Conference play against USAO on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Jim Wade Stadium.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
