Baseball 4/17/2013 11:58:00 PM

OC Rallies Late To Upend Dustdevils

Box Score

KERRVILLE (April 17, 2013) – The TAMIU baseball team dropped a non-conference tilt to Oklahoma Christian University 4-1 Wednesday afternoon in Kerrville, Texas.

The game between OC (22-18) and TAMIU (23-18) was originally scheduled to be played last Wednesday at OC, but was postponed due to wet field conditions. Instead, OC coach Lonny Cobble and TAMIU coach Chad Porter agreed to play the game at Schreiner University.

The game went into the seventh inning with Oklahoma Christian leading 1-0. TAMIU scored to even the game in the top half of the inning, but the Eagles responded with three runs over the next two innings to put the game away.

OC starting pitcher Kelby Reneau was sharp for the Eagles allowing only five hits over eight innings with five strike outs. He also managed to work his way out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the eighth.

The Eagles took the early lead scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the first. Jordan Lopez singled, stole second and then scored on an error by Alex Salas to give OC a 1-0 lead. TAMIU was held scoreless over the first six innings, but managed to even up the game in the seventh as Salas led off with a triple and then scored on a groundout by Alex McKeon.

The Eagles answered in the bottom half of the inning against reliever Ryan Williams. With one out, Caden Cleveland walked and Garrett Stephenson and Cory Eastwood followed with singles to load the bases. Cleveland scored on a sacrifice fly by Lopez, before Markus Carr loaded the bases again with a single. Reliever Julio Velez then threw a wild pitch allowing Stephenson to score to make it a 3-1 game.

The Dustdevils looked to be in a prime position to pull even in the eighth, but failed to capitalize on a bases loaded, no-outs situation. Following Grant Garrett’s leadoff single, Jeff Anderson was hit by a pitch and Alvaro Rondon singled to load up the bases. Hector Gonzalez then hit into a fielder’s choice with Garrett being thrown out at home plate. Salas flied out to left for the second out of the inning before McKeon grounded into the second fielder’s choice of the inning to end the threat.

The Eagles added an insurance run in the eighth, as Garrett Guys walked and pinch-runner Caleb Price eventually scored on a groundout. Closer Chris Burgess picked up his eighth save of the year, retiring the Dustdevils in order in the ninth to seal the win.

The loss drops TAMIU to 23-18 on the year, but does not affect their conference standings. The Dustdevils remain in third place, a game and a half ahead of Arkansas Fort Smith. TAMIU will continue non-conference play this weekend, hosting McMurry University in a three-game set at Jorge Haynes Field. The first pitch for Friday’s doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.

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