Baseball 4/29/2013 3:39:00 PM

OCU hosts SAC baseball tournament

Top-ranked Stars face Mid-America Christian at 6 p.m. Wednesday

OCU ranks second in the NAIA with 62 home runs as a team.

OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 1-ranked Oklahoma City University meets Mid-America Christian at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Jim Wade Stadium in the Sooner Athletic Conference baseball tournament.
The Stars, top-ranked in the NAIA, face 23rd-ranked Rogers State at 6 p.m. Thursday and USAO at 6 p.m. Friday in the SAC Tournament at Jim Wade Stadium.
The SAC Tournament championship takes place 1 p.m. Saturday at Jim Wade Stadium featuring the pool-play winners. Pool play happens Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at both OCU and Oklahoma Baptist.
Other pool-play contests at Jim Wade Stadium will be Rogers State vs. USAO at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Mid-America Christian vs. USAO at 2 p.m. Thursday and Mid-America Christian vs. Rogers State at 2 p.m. Friday.
OCU owns nine SAC baseball tournament titles won in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010. Oklahoma Baptist won the 2012 SAC Tournament 19-8 over Lubbock Christian in Shawnee, Okla.
"The defense and pitching is what's keeping us going," OCU coach Denney Crabaugh said. "Our defense has really kept us in it. That's one thing I've told our guys is I'm been proud of them for is even though some of them have struggled offensively from time to time, they haven't let it affect their defense."
Derek Howell, a senior right-handed pitcher from Krum, Texas, has posted a 9-2 record, 1.46 earned run average and 68 strikeouts in 80.1 innings pitched. Howell leads the SAC and ranks ninth among the NAIA in ERA. Howell could give OCU the league's ERA leader for the third year in a row.
Cody Crabaugh, a senior righty from Edmond, Okla., adds a 12-1 record, 2.07 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 78.1 innings. Crabaugh ranks second nationally in wins.
Kale Gaden, a senior catcher-outfielder from Stillwater, Okla., has hit .345 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 49 RBIs, ranking 11th in in the NAIA in slugging percentage (.703) and 14th in homers.
Cody Ferrell, a senior outfielder from McLoud, Okla., has a .329 average, nine homers, 29 RBIs and 28 stolen bases. Ferrell tops the SAC and ranks 20th nationally in steals.
The Stars (44-10) won the SAC regular-season championship for the third year in a row. OCU leads the NAIA with a .979 team fielding percentage and 25 triples. The Stars rank second in the NAIA in home runs per game (1.15) and team slugging percentage (.540) while ranking third in opponents' batting average (.211). To see how OCU ranks among national statistics, click here.
Tickets for the tournament will be $7 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Live stats and video will be available for all games of the tournament. The live video stream costs $7.95 per game and $24.95 for a tournament pass. To follow the games, click here. Audio from OCU games will be available here.

Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament
Wednesday's Games
At Oklahoma City University
Jim Wade Stadium
Rogers State vs. USAO, 11 a.m.
Mid-America Christian at Oklahoma City, 3 p.m.
At Oklahoma Baptist
Bison Field at Ford Park
Lubbock Christian vs. St. Gregory's, 11 a.m.
Wayland Baptist at Oklahoma Baptist, 3 p.m.
Thursday's Games
At Oklahoma City University
Jim Wade Stadium
Mid-America Christian vs. USAO, 2 p.m.
Rogers State at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m.
At Oklahoma Baptist
Bison Field at Ford Park
Lubbock Christian vs. Wayland Baptist, 2 p.m.
St. Gregory's at Oklahoma Baptist, 6 p.m.
Friday's Games
At Oklahoma City University
Jim Wade Stadium
Mid-America Christian vs. Rogers State, 2 p.m.
USAO at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m.
At Oklahoma Baptist
Bison Field at Ford Park
St. Gregory's vs. Wayland Baptist, 2 p.m.
Lubbock Christian at Oklahoma Baptist, 6 p.m.
Saturday's Game
At Oklahoma City University
Jim Wade Stadium
Championship
Pool-play winners, 1 p.m.

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