OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University used a four-run seventh inning to seal the 15-4 run rule over Southern Nazarene in its Sooner Athletic Conference opener at the Cypert Athletic Complex on Tuesday.
Chad Carman, a junior from Midwest City, Okla., blasted a two-out grand slam in the first inning to give OCU the early advantage and put the Crimson Storm on their heels. The Stars, ranked seventh in NAIA baseball, moved to 2-2 on the season, 1-0 in the SAC.
In the top of the seventh, Ruben Sosa belted a single up the middle resulting in two runs following a pitching change. Two sacrifice fly balls by Brian Fisher and Kirk Walker brought in Julien Pollard and Sosa to cap the game scoring at 15-4.
Southern Nazarene looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh to stave off the run rule, to no avail. The Crimson Storm advanced two runners into scoring position before Austin Samulowitz grounded into the final out of the game and stranded two runners.
Southern Nazarene punched in three runs in the bottom of the fifth to make the game 11-4, but could not muster enough offense to keep up with the hot bats of the Stars.
OCU's Mark Purser, a senior from Spokane, Wash., opened the third inning with a solo homerun. Fisher got his first of two RBI's with a sacrifice fly to score Dearth Parker. After the third inning, the Stars owned an 11-1 advantage over Southern Nazarene. OCU knocked out the Crimson Storm starter and eventual game loser Jake Mitcheltree after his three innings of work.
Following the first inning grand slam by Carman, the Stars added five more runs in the second. Doubles by Jackson and Walker brought in three runs. Jackson advanced to home on a throwing error and a right-field single by Beltran scored the fifth run of the inning.
Sosa, a junior from Lawrence, Mass., went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, three runs and a stolen base for OCU. The Stars had 11 hits in the offensive frenzy. Corey Theriot, a senior from Iowa, La., picked up the win. Theriot pitched five innings for the Stars, allowing six hits and four runs and striking out four batters.
OCU hosts its first game of the season as the Stars welcome MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) to Jim Wade Stadium Friday at 2 p.m.
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