WICHITA, Kan. – The Oklahoma City University Baseball team dropped both games of the 2026 season-opening series against Friends University. OCU traveled two hours north to face off against the Falcons in a doubleheader.
Game 1
Friends 5, Oklahoma City 2
Top Performers
Eli Hill: 1-3, H, RBI
During the opening game of 2026, it took the Stars four innings to record a hit and to get on the scoreboard. Falcons' starter, Raleigh Clark, maintained a perfect outing for the first three innings of the contest. OCU found themselves down 4-0 going into the fourth inning after Friends plated three runs in the opening frame.
Ending the offensive struggles for the Stars was
Aiden Van Rensum. The Stars' designated hitter hit a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing
Trent Baker across home plate.
Spencer Biggerstaff entered the game in relief of the Stars' starter
Tanner Ellis during the fourth inning; Biggerstaff pitched 2.2 innings.
Nick Anaya recorded the last out on the mound for OCU.
Game 2
Friends 4, Oklahoma City 2
Top Performers
Wyatt Pace: 1-2, BB, RBI
Cooper Holtorf: 1-3, R, RBI
Unlike game one, OCU struck first in game two with a first-inning RBI recorded by first baseman
Wyatt Pace—the sophomore from Yukon, Okla. drove
Cooper Holtorf home with a double to left center field. The Falcons answered in the third inning with two runs of their own after game two starter
Cayden Maxwell allowed an RBI single followed by a ground-rule double, which generated a run for Friends. Maxwell is a newcomer in 2026, transferring from Houston Christian.
OCU tied the game at two runs apiece in the sixth inning after Holtorf grounded out to the catcher, bringing Baker in to score. The bottom of the sixth inning saw the Falcons reclaim the lead for good when Miles Hartman brought home two runs with one swing of his bat. Friends took a 4-2 lead into the seventh inning, and OCU went on to go down one, two, three to end the game.
Next Up
Oklahoma City returns to Denney Crabaugh Field to host Sterling (Kan.) and Clarke University. The Stars will play both teams twice, with the first game against Sterling on Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. OCU will play Clarke later on the 30th at 3 p.m. Then on Saturday, Jan 31, OCU will play Clarke at 10 a.m. and Sterling at 12:30 p.m.
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