SHAWNEE, Okla. – Mark Purser and Steve Vitale each had three-run homers as Oklahoma City University run-ruled Oklahoma Baptist 16-5 in game one of a three-game series on Thursday evening at Bison Field.

The Stars, ranked second in NAIA baseball, pounded out 17 hits in the game to improve to 31-6, 15-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. OCU has now won 14 consecutive games.

Purser, a junior from Spokane, Wash., finished 3-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored to pace the Stars as the plate. Purser was a double shy of hitting for the cycle. Brian Fisher, a sophomore from Spring, Texas, went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs, while Vitale, a senior from East Meadow, N.Y., was 1-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs.

OCU got on the board in the second inning with five runs on six hits. Fisher connected for a two-run single up the middle to give OCU a 2-0 advantage. Two batters later, Purser roped a triple down the right-field line to drive in two more runs. Terrance Jackson followed with a single that brought home Purser and gave the Stars a 5-0 advantage.

Purser homered to right-field to cap a four-run third inning that increased OCU's lead to 9-1.

In the seventh inning, Vitale sent the first pitch he saw over the center-field wall for his team-leading 14th home run to pad the OCU lead at 15-5. Garrett Regan ripped an RBI single up the middle to close out the scoring for the Stars.

Dustin Williams, a senior right-hander from Norman, Okla., picked up the victory despite struggling for much of the night. Williams (8-1) allowed five runs on 11 hits over six innings of work. Williams finished with six strikeouts.

OBU starter Kyle Brule lasted just 2.2 innings in earning the loss. Brule gave up nine earned runs on 10 hits to fall to 3-3 on the season.

The Stars will host Oklahoma Baptist for game two of the series on Friday beginning at 6 p.m. at Jim Wade Stadium. OCU has also added a make-up game with Northwood (Texas) on Monday at 6 p.m. at Jim Wade Stadium.
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