OKLAHOMA CITY – Northwood (Texas) connected for three home runs to edge second-ranked Oklahoma City University 6-3 on Monday evening at Jim Wade Stadium.
The Stars (32-8) managed just six hits in the game, led by Steve Vitale and Drew McAdoo with two hits each. Vitale, a senior from East Meadow, N.Y., finished 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs on the night.
Northwood starter George Isabell earned his fifth victory of the season with six strong innings pitched, allowing two runs on four hits. Isabell walked four and struck out nine to keep the Stars in check for most of the night.
OCU pushed out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Vitale's team-leading 17th home run of the season. Vitale has now connected for a homer in each of the last five games.
Northwood got on the board in the fourth inning with back-to-back home runs to take a 3-2 advantage. Johnny Aldaz drilled a two-run homer to left field to knot the game at two. Humberto Miranda followed with an in-the-park home run down the left-field line.
Northwood capitalized on a throwing-error by Kirk Walker in the seventh inning to score two runs and take a 5-2 advantage. Walker looked to have Northwood pinch-runner Dewitt Knight picked off at third base, but his throw was low allowing Knight to score. Justin Keithley followed with an RBI double to center field.
Vitale recorded his second hit of the night with a triple off the center-field wall to drive home McAdoo in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Aldaz ripped his second home run of the game, a solo shot to left-center, in the eighth inning to give the Knights a three-run lead. Aldaz finished with two hits, 3 RBIs and two runs scored.
Brad Riddle, a senior right-hander from Bethany, Okla., pitched well for OCU in a losing effort to fall to 2-1 on the season. In his first start of the season, Riddle surrendered two runs on four hits and struck out seven in four innings of work.
Cody Crabaugh, a freshman from Edmond, Okla., came on for three innings of relief for the Stars. Crabaugh gave up two unearned runs on two hits and recorded three strikeouts. Zac Coplon, a junior from Claremore, Okla., gave up a run on two hits in two innings pitched.
The Stars travel to Bartlesville, Okla. for a nine-inning game with Oklahoma Wesleyan on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
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