PIEDMONT. OKLA. – Oklahoma City opened its 2024 season at Piedmont High School on Sunday with a double-header against LSU-Alexandria where the Stars completed an eight-run comeback in game one and were fueled by a Trent Kiraly homer to dead center to help cruise to a 7-4 victory in game two.
GAME ONE – Oklahoma City 12, LSU-Alexandria 11
Top Performers
Darian Duhon – 4-4, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI
Hunter Lenochan – 3-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI
Aiden Van Rensum – 3-4, 2 R, RBI
Anthony Kopecky – W, (1-0), 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 SO
LSU-Alexandria (0-2) broke the game open in the third inning by scoring four runs thanks to a pair of doubles by the Generals. LSU-A was able to capitalize in the following inning by putting up four more in the fourth frame and taking a 9-2 lead.
After scoring two more runs in the top of the fifth inning, the Generals held an 11-3 lead inching closer to a game-one victory. The tide finally began to turn for Oklahoma City (2-0) in the bottom of the fifth as the comeback was on for the Stars.
Darian Duhon got the Stars going in the bottom of the fifth inning leading off the frame with a single to center to keep his perfect day at the plate going. With two on and two out Reese Ratchford stepped to the dish and delivered with a big two-out double to the left center field gap bringing home two runs to help cut into the deficit.
The Stars brought in two more runs after Ratchford's double to tally a five-run inning and followed it up with a four-run inning in the sixth as Aiden Van Rensum put OCU on the board with his third hit in four plate appearances by driving in his single RBI in Aiden Alexander with a base hit to right field. Moments later, Ratchford once again came through to make it a one-run game with a sacrifice fly to left that brought in Van Rensum to complete a 1-for-3 day at the dish while driving in three RBIs.
The Generals decided to go to their bullpen and make a pitching change with the bases juiced and just one out. Hunter Lenochan came to the plate in a big spot as the first batter to face the new arm and delivered the go-ahead knock with a double to right center scoring Barrett Daniel and Trent Kiraly to put the Stars in front and complete the eight-run comeback.
Anthony Kopecky came in the game to pitch to begin the fifth inning and helped Oklahoma City keep its deficit to where it was by going 2.1 innings allowing no runs and only two hits while striking out three and earning the win.
Darian Duhon had a massive day at the plate going 4-for-4 at the plate while smashing a home run over the right-field wall. Duhon drove in a pair of runs while also crossing the plate three times.
Second basemen Hunter Lenochan put together a 3-for-4 game while tying Ratchford for a team-high three RBIs while adding a pair of doubles to his line.
GAME TWO – Oklahoma City 7, LSU-Alexandria 4
Top Performers
Andrew Limbaugh – W (1-0), 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 SO
Darion Duhon – 2-4, 2 R, RBI
Trent Kiraly – 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
Andrew Limbaugh got the nod to start on the bump in game two for Oklahoma City as the senior closed out his brilliant start with three straight scoreless innings
Tied up at 2 apiece Oklahoma City rallied in the bottom of the third inning by putting up five runs while batting around the order. After a Hunter Brown double to start the inning, Aiden Alexander placed a bunt down the third base line which led to an errant throw by the third baseman bringing in Spencer Biggerstaff who took over at second base for Brown to score the first run of the inning as Alexander made it all the way around to third.
Darian Duhon continued to rake driving in the next run and eventually came around to score on a sac fly from Barrett Daniel. Oklahoma City was far from done in the third inning as three straight at-bats all turned into runs as Tristian Williams, Hunter Lenochan, and Noah Kang all provided RBIs for OCU to help get out to a 7-2 lead.
LSU-Alexandria was able to pick up a run in each of the final two innings however the starting catcher in game one Reese Ratchford came on to pitch in relief for Jordan Hanes with two runners on and nobody out. Ratchford slammed the door shut on the Generals putting them down 1-2-3 with a pair of strikeouts to give OCU the series victory.
Trent Kiraly put the Stars on the board first as the top hitter from a season ago for OCU blasted a 400-plus-foot bomb over the centerfield wall. Kiraly completed game two going 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Aiden Van Rensum and Darian Duhon were the two Stars with multiple base hits as Van Rensum went 2-for-4 with a run scored while Duhon finished off his big day going 2-for-4 in game two with two runs scored and one run driven in.
Oklahoma City will go for the sweep in the opening series of the 2024 season on Monday as the Stars go back to Piedmont High School for one nine-inning contest at 11 AM.
