PLAINVIEW, Texas – Jared Baker hit a two-RBI double in the first inning of game one to break the Oklahoma City University career doubles record and led OCU to a doubleheader sweep of Wayland Baptist 7-2 and 6-5 Thursday at David and Myrt Wilder Field.
Oklahoma City, 39-5, 16-1 in Sooner Athletic Conference play, continued its hot streak and has now won 21 of its last 22 games.
Baker, a senior from Edmond, Okla., opened the scoring in game one by lifting the first pitch he saw into left center-field for a double to give OCU the 2-0 lead. The double was the 78th in Baker's career, breaking the OCU record set by the 2011 NAIA player of the year Kirk Walker.
The Stars added another run in the first on an RBI double by Garrett Foster to drive in Shaun Corso.
The three first inning runs would be all Oklahoma City starter Matt Young would need as he gave up just two runs in the game. Young, a junior out of Glendora, Calif., picked up his seventh win of the season by pitching seven innings, allowing six hits and striking out a season high 10 batters.
OCU added two more runs in the fourth and fifth innings to extend their lead to 7-2. The Stars scored two in the fourth on a two-RBI double from Jerame Littell and two in the fifth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Cory Linn and Foster.
Baker, Foster, Linn and Joe Lytle all recorded multiple hits in game one. Linn, a senior from Moore, Okla., led the way going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Baker got things started once again in game two with a solo homer in the top of the first to give OCU the lead.
After falling behind 2-1 after the first, the Stars responded with three runs in the top of the second to retake the lead.
The inning was highlighted by a two-RBI double from Littell and an RBI triple from reigning SAC player of the week Lane Milligan.
The next two OCU runs came courtesy of Corso on a sacrifice fly in the third and a solo homer in the fifth to give Oklahoma City a 6-4 lead.
Baker finished the day going 5-for-8 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored and was just a single shy of hitting for the cycle in game two.
Mark Simon picked up the win after throwing 5.2 innings, giving up four earned runs, six hits and striking out five.
Tyler Milligan pitched the final inning for Oklahoma City and struck out two of the three hitters he face to close the door. Milligan, a junior from Wagoner, Okla., picked up his sixth save of the season.
Oklahoma City finishes the three game series with Wayland Baptist Friday beginning at noon.