Published: March 16, 2008 12:09 am            

OC struggles with No. 15-ranked Pioneers

The Oklahoma Christian baseball team had a rough weekend. The Eagles struggled against No. 15 Wayland Baptist (Texas), dropping all three contests.

The Pioneers’ hot bats were too much to handle in game one, as they cruised to a 17-0 win.

Brett Cook led off the game with a home run, and WBU added seven more to put the Eagles in an 8-0 hole early.

Riley Jones (3-2) appeared to have things under control as he work a pair of scoreless inning before the Pioneers put five runs on the board in the fourth inning and added four more in fifth to run-rule the Eagles 17-0.

Josh Balch went 2-for-2 and collected half of the team’s hits in the opener.

The Eagles got their bats moving in game two, but it was not enough to stop WBU. Todd Jeffress drove in four runs to lead the Pioneers past OC 9-5 Friday night.

OC jumped on the board first with an RBI-single by Balch. Tyler Gipson later scored on an error from WBU pitcher Gary Gates to make it a 2-0 game.

WBU responded with five unanswered scores in the second and third innings to grab a 5-3 advantage.

Chance Nichols socked a solo homer in the fifth inning and Balch hit a two-run shot to left field to cut the Pioneers lead to one run.

But the Pioneers scored twice more in the sixth, then once in the seventh, to go on top for good.

Balch finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI and Nichols was 3-for-3 with his one RBI.

WBU scored five runs in the eighth inning Saturday on its way to a 14-6 win over Oklahoma Christian at Dobson Field.

The Eagles (10-12-1, 3-12) committed eight errors in the loss.

OC starter Tim Dodd (3-1) lost his first game of the season despite allowing just two earned runs in his five innings of work.

But three OC errors opened the door for four unearned runs in the top of the fourth that gave the Pioneers a 6-0 lead.

The Pioneers added a run in the fifth, but the Eagles answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Nick Hollrah led off with a single, advanced to third on Jordan Price’s double, then scored on Ray Long’s single.

Jeff Davis’ fielder’s choice scored Price, and Balch drove in Ryan Harper (running for Davis) to give the Eagles life.

The Pioneers scored twice in the sixth before another Price double drove home Josh Henry in the home half of the inning to pull OC within 9-4.

But Wayland broke open the game in the eighth inning, scoring five runs on three-straight hits by Michael Prell, Vinny Biancamano and Brett Sheppard, and two errors.

Jason Kimzey (3-1) earned the win for the Pioneers, giving up three runs and six hits while striking out six in five innings. Long (3-for-4, two RBIs) and Price (2-for-4, two RBIs) led the Eagles at the plate.

Oklahoma Christian hosts Hastings (Neb.) at 2 p.m. Tuesday before heading to No. 4 Lubbock Christian (Texas) for a three-game set next Friday and Saturday.

        

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