OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City University baseball team continued its hot hitting, grabbing a 7-4 win over York (Neb.) and rolling to a 17-5 win over Avila (Mo.) on Sunday at Jim Wade Stadium.
The Stars recorded 16 extra base hits between the two games and moved to 4-0 on the season. York, ranked 13th in NAIA baseball, dropped to 4-4, and Avila fell to 1-3.
In the first game, Oklahoma City got the scoring started with four runs in the bottom of the second inning. After a one-out single by Jerame Littell, junior Hunter Aguirre doubled into left field to bring Littell around to score. Later in the inning, Joe Lytle unloaded on a fastball and sent it over the right-field fence for a three-run home run to put OCU up 4-0.
The Stars gave up two in the top of the third, but were able to get the runs back in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs and nobody on, Lytle hit his second home run of the game to make it a 5-2 ballgame. After back-to-back singles by Jared Baker and Cory Linn, Shaun Corso brought home the sixth OCU run with a double into the right-center field gap.
OCU added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an RBI single by Baker to drive in courtesy runner Jared Davis.
York attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, but Holden Lyons got Lamar Smith to ground out to the first baseman for the final out.
Tanner Andrews earned the win as he tossed five innings while giving up two earned runs, and two hits, striking out four and only walking one. Lyons pitched the final two innings, giving up two runs, three hits, struck out two and didn't allow a walk.
The Stars bats stayed hot in the second game of the day, pounding out 15 hits, nine of which were for extra bases.
Avila jumped ahead early 2-0 in the first inning thanks to a single and a sacrifice fly, but the Stars answered with a huge bottom of the second.
The first two runs of the game for OCU game off of two errors by Avila. Skyler Bean allowed Littell to scamper home to give the Stars a 3-2 lead. With two outs in the inning, both Branden Grieger and Lytle hit singles to keep the inning alive for Baker. Baker followed with a three-run home run over the center-field fence.
Oklahoma City built off their strong second inning with a seven-run third. Lytle delivered a single to right field to score two more runs. Grieger came home on a wild pitch. Littell followed with a single to drive home two more and give the Stars a 13-2 advantage.
In the fourth, Oklahoma City tacked on three more runs, the first two of which were driven in by a Linn single.
After giving up one run in the top of the sixth, OCU immediately got the run back thanks to back-to-back doubles to right field by Foster and Corso.
On the bump, Craig Knoche got the win for the Stars, pitching four innings giving up two runs while striking out three and walking one. Ken Williams followed Knoche with a scoreless fifth and Chance Weinstien pitched the sixth, giving up two hits and one earned run while striking out one. J.R. Holloway closed it out for Oklahoma City, pitching one inning, giving up one hit and two runs, one of which was unearned.
The Stars will head to Springfield, Mo., for a noon doubleheader Tuesday against Evangel (Mo.).