LUBBOCK, Texas – Oklahoma City University takes aim at its second consecutive title in the Sooner Athletic Conference baseball tournament this week.
OCU captured its ninth SAC Tournament crown in last year's tournament. OCU's other SAC Tournament championships came in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.
This year's SAC Tournament will be a pool-play format. The top-seeded Stars highlight pool A, which includes fourth-seeded Rogers State, fifth-seeded Oklahoma Christian and eighth seed USAO. Pool B has No. 2 seed Oklahoma Baptist, No. 3 Lubbock Christian (Texas), No. 6 Wayland Baptist (Texas) and No. 7 Mid-America Christian.
The two pool-play winners face each other for the tournament championship 1 p.m. Saturday at Hays Field in Lubbock, Texas.
The Stars (41-9) meet Oklahoma Christian at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Lubbock, Texas. OCU, ranked second in the NAIA, faces Rogers State at 2 p.m. Thursday in Plainview, Texas, then USAO at 2 p.m. Friday in Plainview, Texas. For video, audio and live stats of the game at Lubbock Christian, click here. For video, audio and live stats of the games at Wayland Baptist, click here.
Kirk Walker, a senior from Bakersfield, Calif., leads OCU with a .449 batting average, .513 on-base percentage, 89 hits and 19 doubles. Rich Hawkins, a junior from Edmond, Okla., spearheads the pitching staff with a 9-3 record, 1.39 earned run average, two shutouts and 57 strikeouts in 71.1 innings. OCU captured the SAC regular-season championship with a 26-4 conference record.
See OCU coach Denney Crabaugh previewing the postseason in the latest edition of the OCU Athletics Update by clicking here.
Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament
Pool A: No. 1 Oklahoma City, No. 4 Rogers State, No. 5 Oklahoma Christian, No. 8 USAO
Pool B: No. 2 Oklahoma Baptist, No. 3 Lubbock Christian, No. 6 Wayland Baptist, No. 7 Mid-America Christian
Wednesday's Games
At Lubbock, Texas
Oklahoma Christian vs. Oklahoma City, 2 p.m.
Mid-America Christian at Lubbock Christian, 6 p.m.
At Plainview, Texas
Rogers State vs. USAO, 2 p.m.
Oklahoma Baptist at Wayland Baptist, 6 p.m.
Thursday's Games
At Lubbock, Texas
Oklahoma Christian vs. USAO, 2 p.m.
Oklahoma Baptist at Lubbock Christian, 6 p.m.
At Plainview, Texas
Oklahoma City vs. Rogers State, 2 p.m.
Mid-America Christian at Wayland Baptist, 6 p.m.
Friday's Games
At Lubbock, Texas
Oklahoma Christian vs. Rogers State, 2 p.m.
Mid-America Christian vs. Oklahoma Baptist, 6 p.m.
At Plainview, Texas
Oklahoma City vs. USAO, 2 p.m.
Lubbock Christian at Wayland Baptist, 6 p.m.
Saturday's Game
Championship
At Lubbock, Texas
Pool play winners, 1 p.m.
