SHAWNEE, Okla. – Oklahoma City University dominated on the diamond to sweep the season series with St. Gregory's after 24-2 and 9-0 wins from Bill Nicklas Field on Saturday.
The Stars, ranked seventh in NAIA baseball, remained undefeated in the Sooner Athletic Conference play and moved to 27-3, 16-0 on the season. OCU racked up 17 extra-base hits in the two games, including six home runs.
In the first half of the twin bill, OCU's offense was clicking on all cylinders as Miguel Beltran went 4-for-5 with three home runs and 13 runs batted in. Beltran, a junior from Long Beach, Calif., cleared the bases for two grand slams. As a team, the Stars were 15-of-34 for a .441 batting average in the resounding win.
OCU started the doubleheader with two quick runs that were answered by St. Gregory's only two runs of the day in the bottom of the first to tie the game.
The Stars began to break open the game in the second, putting five runs on the board. The Cavaliers defense struggled in the inning, committing two errors. Three runs crossed the plate before Beltran slugged his first home run of the day. Beltran's two-run shot brought in Julien Pollard and extended the Stars lead to 7-2.
OCU picked up four more in the top of the third. Dearth Parker stroked an RBI double to bring in Terrence Jackson. St. Gregory's pitcher Chance Gilbert walked in a run after loading the bases. Beltran brought in the other two scores with a single to center that put OCU up 11-2.
The Stars continued the batting prowess with a seven spot in the fifth, including Beltran's first grand slam of the day. The sixth inning saw the Stars add six more runs to get to two dozen runs. Beltran's second grand slam brought in Mark Purser, Brian Fisher and Pollard to cap off the game scoring at 24-2.
The nightcap saw OCU pitchers Rich Hawkins and Cody Crabaugh combine for a one-hit shutout as the Stars picked up the 9-0 win. Hawkins, a junior from Edmond, Okla., threw six innings and fanned 11 of the 19 batters he faced. Crabaugh, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., finished the game and forced a three up, three down seventh inning in 12 pitches.
After two scoreless innings, OCU got three straight one-run innings. Kirk Walker belted a solo home run in the third to get the Stars on the board. Austin Messerli added a one-run dinger in the fourth. Chad Carman added an RBI double in the fifth that brought in Pollard and gave the Stars the 3-0 advantage after five innings of action.
Pollard slugged a three-run blast to right field to bring in Ruben Sosa and Walker in the sixth to double the OCU run tally. The Stars stuck up three more runs in the seventh to finish the scoring at 9-0. Messerli led off the inning with a double and was brought around the bases after a Parker single was followed by a Fisher fielder's choice. Walker pounded a triple to right center that brought in two runs to finish the inning and the night.
The Stars host Oklahoma Baptist to begin a three-game series between the top two teams in the SAC at 4 p.m. Thursday at Jim Wade Stadium.
Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
