OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University posted a convincing 22-4 victory over Jamestown (N.D.) in the winner's bracket game of the NAIA Championship Opening Round Group 5 Tournament on Wednesday at Jim Wade Stadium.
The Stars, ranked sixth in NAIA baseball, pounded out a season-high 28 hits, and each OCU starter had at least one hit. OCU (48-14) scored in all but one of the nine innings.
With the win, the Stars advanced to the finals of the Group 5 tournament at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. OCU will need just one victory to advance to the NAIA World Series.
Kirk Walker, a junior from Bakersfield, Calif., finished 5-for-6 with eight runs batted in and five runs scored. Matt Presley, a junior from Colorado Springs, Colo., ripped two home runs and drove in five runs, while Mark Purser, a junior from Spokane, Wash., went 4-for-7 with two runs scored.
Dustin Williams, a senior right-hander from Norman, Okla., pitched seven solid innings to earn his 12th victory of the season. Williams permitted three runs, one earned, on three hits and struck out six. Zac Tidholm, a junior left-hander from Mustang, Okla., allowed a run on one hit over the last two innings to close out the game.
OCU notched a pair of runs in the first inning to build a 2-0 advantage. Walker singled up the middle to drive home a run, and then Chad Carman ripped an RBI-single to right field.
Presley capped a three-run second inning with a two-run homer to left-center field. Earlier in the inning, Walker doubled down the third-base line to drive in Brian Fisher and give OCU a 3-0 advantage.
The Stars increased their lead to 9-0 in the fourth inning with a trio of two-out RBIs. Fisher, Walker and Presley each delivered RBI singles with two outs in the inning.
With the Stars leading 9-3, Presley pounded his second homer of the game, a two-run shot to right-center in the fifth inning.
Walker ignited a five-run sixth inning with a three-run shot to left field to give the Stars a 15-3 lead. Garrett Regan added an RBI single to left field in the inning to score Austin Messerli.
Walker doubled home two runs in the seventh, followed by an RBI double to right field by Messerli as OCU took a 19-7 lead. Scott Dalrymple and Drew McAdoo each drove in runs with singles in the eighth.
Messerli ripped a solo blast to left field in the top of the ninth to give the Stars a 22-3 advantage.
Boxscore
NAIA Championship Opening Round
Group 5 Tournament
At Oklahoma City
Jim Wade Stadium
Tuesday's Results
Northwestern (Iowa) 7, Grand View (Iowa) 2
Jamestown (N.D.) 4, Union (Tenn.) 3, 10 inn.
Oklahoma City 17, Northwestern 3
Wednesday's Results
Game 4: Union 17, Grand View 3, Grand View eliminated
Game 5: Oklahoma City 21, Jamestown 3
Game 6: Northwestern 10, Union 9, Union eliminated
Thursday's Games
Game 7: Jamestown vs. Northwestern, 11 a.m.
Game 8: Oklahoma City vs. Winner Game 7, 2:30 p.m., championship
Friday's Game
Game 9: If necessary, noon
