OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City Baseball team fell slightly short in a heartbreaking loss against the Drovers of Science & Arts. The Stars hosted their Sooner Athletic Conference opponent, USAO, at Denney Crabaugh Field at Jim Wade Stadium. Upon entering Thursday's contest, OCU was one game under .500 in SAC play. Offensive production was abundant; both teams combined for 15 total runs scored. Stars' starting pitcher Andrew Limbaugh threw 6.1 innings and settled in nicely after giving up two early runs. At the time of vacating the mound, Limbaugh was in line for the win, but untimely errors and a strange bounce of the ball off the lip of the infield changed the direction of momentum in the contest.

USAO 8, OCU 7

Top Performers
Hunter Lenochan: 2-5, 3 RBI, 2 R
Trent Kiraly: 3-3, RBI, 2 R, BB
Ethan Rhoades: 2-3, R, RBI


The Stars and the Drovers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring two runs each in their half of the first inning. OCU broke the tie in the second inning by putting up four runs. In the third inning, one more run was tacked on by the Stars' offense before they ultimately didn't score a run for the rest of the game.


Hunter Lenochan and Trent Kiraly led the charge, going a combined 5-for-8 with four RBIs and four runs scored. Senior Edmond native Lenochan accrued his three RBIs on one swing of the bat, generating a home run in the second inning. Kiraly, a graduate student from New Mexico, narrowly hit for the cycle and increased his hitting streak to five games—the power hitter from Farmington has also earned a walk in three straight games. 


On the mound, starting pitcher Andrew Limbaugh pitched into the sixth inning and received run support from his team. The lefty from Deer Creek threw nearly 100 pitches and was in line for the win upon being relieved from the mound. Ultimately, the Drovers got back into the game by scoring one run in three straight innings.
Despite immense offensive success early in the game against the Drovers' starter Jared Adams, relief pitcher Ryan Cullinane came in once OCU chased Adams out of the game after two innings and held the Stars' offense in check for seven innings while recording eight strikeouts. USAO took the lead in the top of the ninth inning while holding onto their lead to capture a victory in the series opener against the Stars.



Next Up
Oklahoma City continues its homestand against USAO on Denney Crabaugh Field at Jim Wade Stadium to complete its three-game series against the Drovers. Saturday's games are scheduled for 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.


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