OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City Baseball team opened its 2025 campaign against Friends on Saturday where the Stars suffered a pair of losses to the Falcons in the doubleheader on Denney Crabaugh Field at Jim Wade Stadium.
Friends - 5
Oklahoma City - 2
Top Performers
Aiden Van Rensum - 1-4, RBI
Nic Bennett - 1-4, RBI
Jacob Burkett - 4.0 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, 5 SO
Game Summary
Oklahoma City opened up with a two run lead in the bottom of the first as newcomer
Nic Bennett hit an RBI single followed by
Aiden Van Rensum driving home
Trent Kiraly with an infield chopper while beating out the throw to first. Following the opening frame, Falcons pitching held OCU scoreless for the rest of the way retiring 16 of the last 18 Stars batters. The Falcons went on top for the first time in the top of the eighth with a double from Issais Urriola and extended its lead to 5-2 on a two-run shot from Carlos Rodriguez in the ninth.
Game Notes
- Jacob Burkett made his 12th start of his OCU career including his second opening day nod. The right-hander from Arlington, Washington gave up one run on three hits with five strikeouts in four innings of work making it the second fewest hits allowed when throwing at least four innings in his career.
- Barrett Daniel was the only Star to collect multiple knocks in game one with singles in the third and the ninth while reaching base three times after making it to first on a fielders choice in the bottom of the first.
- Nic Bennett got off to a strong start in his OCU debut driving in the games first run in his first plate appearance as a Star.
- Aiden Van Rensum comes off a solid ending the 2024 campaign after finishing last season on a five-game hitting streak. The junior picked up right where he left off with an infield single in the first to bring in the Stars second and final run of the contest.
- The OCU offense went without an extra base hit and was held to just one hit in the final five innings as 17 straight Oklahoma City batters were sat down from the middle of the third up to two outs in the ninth when Barrett Daniel broke the hitless streak.
Friends - 10
Oklahoma City - 7
Top Performers
Aiden Van Rensum - 2-4, 2B
Jack Johnson - 1-2, 2 R, HR, R
Game Summary
Friends opened game two by scoring in each of the first four frames including a six-run second inning where Oklahoma City committed a pair of miscues that led to the Falcons taking a 7-0 early lead. After falling down 10-0, Oklahoma City chipped its way back with
Jack Johnson getting the scoring going for OCU with a solo homer. The Stars followed up with a four-run fifth scoring three runs with the ball never leaving the infield
Nic Bennett drove in the final run of the frame with a sac fly to center. Down to its final three outs and looking to rally,
Heath Brown kept the Stars alive with a two-out RBI single to center that scored
Barrett Daniel from second. Freshman
Gage Geiger stepped in with a pinch-hit base knock before
Aiden Alexander hit into a field choice to the Falcons second baseman to end the game causing the probable comeback to fall short.
Game Notes
- Oklahoma City falls to 0-2 for the first time since 2023 while having allowed 10 runs in three of the last four games going back to the NAIA Opening Round in Lewiston last year.
- Aiden Van Rensum became the only Star to hit safely in each of the two games on Saturday while being the only batter to tab multiple hits in game two. Van Rensum now carries a seven-game hit streak going back to the SAC Tournament in May of last season.
- Jack Johnson launched the Stars only home run of the day in his OCU debut while reaching base three times and crossing the plate twice.
- Barrett Daniel matched Johnson with two runs scored while taking three walks in the game.
- Isaac Horstman made his fourth career start while Anthony Kopecky was first out of the pen as both pitchers combined for 10 runs allowed through 3.2 innings.
- The Falcons went without an extra base hit despite collecting 12 hits and finished with five walks.
- Relief pitchers Dalton Campbell and Tanner Ellis made their Oklahoma City debuts combining to shutout the Falcons in 3.1 innings allowing four hits and two walks while Campbell picked up a strikeout.
Next Up
Oklahoma City will continue the 18-game home stand to open the season with three games next weekend starting with Sterling College on Friday, Jan. 31 at 10:00 AM with a contest against Clarke to follow at 3:00 PM.
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