OKLAHOMA CITY – Mike Richard turned in a dominating performance on the mound as third-ranked Oklahoma City University snuck by Oklahoma Christian 2-0 in game two of a three-game series on Friday evening at Jim Wade Stadium.
Richard, a junior left-hander from Walla Walla, Wash., tossed 8.1 innings of scoreless baseball to move to 7-1 on the season. Richard allowed just four hits and struck out 10 batters in a game dominated by the pitchers. The Stars (29-6, 13-1 Sooner Athletic Conference) have now won 12 straight games.
“I left everything out on the field tonight,” Richard said about his performance. “It's special to throw that kind of game tonight in front of my parents. They've been watching on the video and listening all year. The next time they would be able to see me would be in the World Series.”
Brad Riddle came on in the ninth and got the final two outs to record his fourth save on the season. Riddle struck out Chris Miller, then got Jeff Davis to ground out to finish off the game.
Ryan Morris took the loss for Oklahoma Christian despite a strong effort. Morris recorded nine strikeouts over eight innings. He gave up one earned run on seven hits and went without a walk.
OCU got on the board with a single run in the first inning. Terrance Jackson led off the inning with a single to left-field, stole second base and scampered home on two errors by the Oklahoma Christian defense to give OCU a 1-0 lead. Jackson went to third base on a throwing error by the catcher, and made it home when the center fielder bobbled the errant throw.
That was all the run support that Richard would need as he held Oklahoma Christian scoreless for the second consecutive night. The Eagles had a chance to put a run across in the fourth inning when they loaded the bases with only one out. Richard responded by striking out the next two batters to end the inning and maintain OCU's 1-0 lead.
Richard said of the situation, “Basically we went fastballs out. We pounded the zone and luckily it worked out.”
The Stars added an insurance run in the eighth inning on an RBI double by Steve Vitale that scored Jackson. Jackson, a junior from Greenville, Ala., led the way at the plate for OCU with two hits and two runs scored. Vitale, a senior from East Meadow, N.Y., turned in three hits and an RBI.
The Stars will host Oklahoma Christian on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the final game of the series at Jim Wade Stadium.
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