OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City Baseball team split Saturday's doubleheader against the Drovers of Science & Arts inside Jim Wade Stadium. In game one, the Stars matched the 10 hits amassed by USAO but could not match the offensive output. Additionally, the Drovers took advantage of three defensive errors and nine runners left on base by Oklahoma City. OCU collected one win in the three-game Sooner Athletic Conference series played at Denney Crabaugh Field. Game one featured offensive fireworks, while game two turned into a defensive battle with the two starting pitchers showcasing their best stuff.

USAO 10, OCU 4

Top Performers
Aiden Van Rensum: 2-3, BB, R
Trent Kiraly: 3-5, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2B

The Drovers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard; Corey Morro smacked a solo home run in the first inning. Then, in the second inning, USAO plated four runs while capitalizing on two errors by the Stars. Followed by the runs scored by USAO, Stars' starting pitcher Jacob Burkett issued two walks, with one of them bringing in Ian Ortiz. Peyton McDowall, the Drovers' first baseman, reached base on the second error of the second inning, which also scored Devin Alvarez before the Stars escaped the inning with a double play.
 
Burkett pitched all seven innings for OCU and did not allow USAO to score any runs between the third and fifth innings. However, Burkett flashed uncharacteristic signs—the Stars' starter walked six Drovers and struck out five. Adding to OCU's struggles was its lack of offense. The Stars scored just one run during the first six innings of the first game on Saturday. Although OCU attempted a comeback bid in the bottom of the seventh, they eventually fell short.

Trent Kiraly's long ball provided the Stars with a late spark of hope, scoring Barrett Daniel and Aiden Van Rensum. Kiraly narrowly missed hitting for the cycle twice in the series against USAO but amassed nine hits in the three-game series. Ethan Rhodes continued his recent surge of offensive prowess, extending his hit streak to three games, notching an RBI single in the fourth inning that scored Kiraly.

USAO 1, OCU 3

Top Performers
Barrett Daniel: 1-2, BB, R
Trent Kiraly: 3-3, R
Tanner Ellis: 7 IP, R, 2 BB, 5 K, CG

Game two of Saturday's doubleheader was the opposite of game one. The offenses were quelled while the pitchers took center stage and stole the spotlight. Freshman Tanner Ellis and Drovers' left-handed starting pitcher Tyson Noel combined for 13 strikeouts.
 
The Drovers scored their only run in the early going of game two when an error by OCU allowed shortstop Devin Alvarez to reach first base, simultaneously scoring Ben Bach from third. After that miscue, the OCU defense and pitching came through clutch to help the Stars collect their 10^th win of the season. Smallball was key in the Stars' victory. Aiden Alexander got his team on the board with an impressive bunt single, resulting in Kiraly scoring from third.
 
In the sixth inning, OCU put the hammer down and took the lead when Eli Hill singled through the right side of the infield to score pinch runner Will Ellis. Coach Keith Lytle made another intuitive substitution—pinch hitter Nic Bennett knocked in Daniel to give the Stars their third run of the game. In the same play that Bennett recorded his RBI, there was an error by the Drovers' shortstop, which resulted in a bang-bang play at the plate. The fiery play that netted the Stars' final run of the ballgame gave OCU the momentous spark they needed to close out the game in USAO's half of the seventh inning.  
 
Next Up
Oklahoma City will enjoy most of Spring Break before going to Point Lookout, Mo. The Stars will take on the College of the Ozarks Bobcats on March 21-22 for a three-game series. Friday's doubleheader times are scheduled for 1:00 and 4:00, with Saturday's contest set for noon.


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