OKLAHOMA CITY– Oklahoma City University opened Sooner Athletic Conference play with a pair of wins over Southwestern Christian Friday afternoon at Jim Wade Stadium, knocking off the Eagles 4-0 and 8-7.
OCU (16-2, 2-0 SAC), ranked eighth in NAIA baseball, got great pitching from Bryce Milligan in game one, as he earned his fourth win of the year and struck out 10 for the second straight game.
Bryce Milligan, a junior from Blanchard, Okla., pitched a complete game shutout in game one of Friday's doubleheader and allowed just five hit and no runs. In his five appearances this season, Bryce Milligan has struck out 41 batters, given up only 17 hits and is yet to allow an earned run. Tyler Milligan, a senior from Binger, Okla., picked up the win in game two after pitching an inning and throwing two strikeouts.
Daxton Marley and Tyler Williams each powered OCU on offense. Daxton Marley, a senior from Norman, Okla., went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a home run in game one. Tyler Williams, a junior from Peoria, Ariz., collected four RBIs on the day and hit his fifth home run of the year.
Tyler Williams drove a double into left center in the first inning of game one to drive in Noah Barks, Daxton Marley launched his home run down the left field line to drive in Tristan Williams in the second and Quinton Walbergh hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth to allow Barks to tag up and score.
In game two Tyler Williams lifted a 3-run home run to left center driving in Walbergh and Elliott Cary in the first. In the third Bryson Lierle doubled home Cary and Tyler Williams, then came around to score on a Peyton Crispin triple into right center. Crispin then came home on an error by SCU to put the Stars ahead 7-0.
Southwestern Christian cut OCU's lead to 7-4 in the fourth when Clay Atwood knocked in Taylor Thomas on a sacrifice fly. Kelvin Fabain singled home Diogen Ceballos and Parker Henderson pushed a single through the left side to score Fabain.
In the sixth the Eagles added three more runs on Cade Carter's pinch hit double into the left field corner, just past the outstretched glove of Tristan Williams at third. In the top of the seventh SCU tied the game at 7-7 on an error.
The Stars would load the bases in the eighth and score the winning run on a Barks sacrifice fly to right center, scoring Jared Hazeldine.
Oklahoma City returns to action on at 12 p.m. Saturday for game three against Southwestern Christian at Dolese Park in Oklahoma City.